Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance ❯ A Reason To Recover ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Author’s Note: It looks like some things have taken a turn for hopefully the best in my life. Currently, I am now in the process of moving to Kansas. I’m sorry but my updates to the story will have to slow down for a while. I still intend to try to update at least once a week. Again I cannot promise this though, I’m sorry to any fans that I may have. Rest assured I do still intend to write and finish this story. I’ll even let you in on some info, I have a plot outline for this story and it’s not even close to being finished yet. There are many interesting parts that will be put into it in the future. There are all so many twists and turns in it and if that’s not enough, I’m sure the ending will be wild enough for you.


Today is the third day of Serenity’s physical therapy. Her body was so frail that it seemed she hadn’t eaten for weeks. Ryan has been supporting her in every way possible up to today. The day that hopefully, she will be able to walk without the support poles.

“So do you think she will be able to do it today doc?”

Dr. Crespin turned around holding his clipboard, “Ahhh, Ryan you’re here early today. Its Tuesday, don’t you have school?”

“Well yeah but I decided not to go today… I’m more interested in getting her to walk. Besides I have a friend that’s getting my work for me.”

“I see… Look Ryan… It’s all good and well that you want to help her but please try not to let it interfere with your schoolwork or your job.”

“Yeah, yeah I’ll go get her and meet you at the physical therapy room.”

Slowly Ryan walks off towards the elevator to her room. “Do you think its affecting his schoolwork?” Asked the nurse poking her head around the corner.

“I’m not sure but I have spoken with his teacher. To be honest Ryan is one of the brightest kids in his class. He just lacks motivation or interest,” replied Dr. Crespin.

“So… He’s lazy then…?”

Dr. Crespin turns around somewhat laughing as he faced the nurse. “On the contrary he’s almost the exact opposite. He cares greatly for things, as long as they interest him.”

“Well you can tell me more about him later then, I’m sure they are on their way to the room right now.” The nurse spun the doctor around and gave him a light push on the back.

“All right… I’m going… Geez.” Casually he proceeds down the hallway to the therapy room. “Man sometimes the nurses here are pests.”

“I heard that…!”

With that Dr. Crespin’s pace increased slightly and his composure tightened up as he closed in on the entrance to the room. Just as he was about to enter he heard Ryan’s voice.

“C’mon… You can do it… That’s it… That’s it… Just a little more…,” were Ryan’s words of encouragement.

Dr. Crespin peered around the doorway and watched as Serenity was working her way to the end of the support poles. Ryan was standing at the end of the poles cheering her on the whole way. Her body was shaking as it moved step by step desperately trying to hold itself up. The arms pushing on the beams were wobbling seemingly the same amount as the legs. Her complexion was changing with the passing of every day. The body that first entered the hospital had been almost completely reformed, fine lines and curves had worked their way outwards. The muscles in her legs and arms showed many signs of recovery.

“Your almost there… You can do it!”

She was now nearing the end of the poles. Her breathing was very acute and was showing signs of slight exhaustion. All though she looked tired, with every step that she took she seemed more determined to reach Ryan. It almost seemed as if her life depended on it.

Just as she got to the end Ryan took a few steps back away from the poles. Serenity stopped and almost fell as she reached out her right hand towards him while her left held her up. She slowly regained her balance as tears started forming after noticing him move back a bit further.

“It’s not over just yet. If you give up now nothing will change. Walk over to me without the poles. You can do it, I know you can Serenity. We can’t leave this place until you do.”

A surge of determination overcame her. It’s almost as if she had been given all her energy back. She took one step forward away from the poles and let go all together. Her legs wobbled slightly at first with the sudden change of pressure. Balance was kept with the utmost priority. Step by step she was sluggishly making her way to Ryan without the support of the poles. Ryan was completely shocked at how much his words had affected her.

Her breathing was now very intense and she was sweating somewhat. With only three steps to go she wasn’t about to give up. She was going to muster enough strength to make those last steps whether her body liked it or not.

“Your so close Serenity… Don’t give up!”

The first step was extremely slow and shaky. Stopping only to recover her balance, the next step was taken more desperately as exhaustion was taking over. The second step finished and she was now ready for the final step. Her upper body moved without hesitation but her leg just didn’t budge. She just didn’t have anything left in her for that last leg movement.

Instantly Ryan slid under her as she fell screaming. The scream made it seem like she had fallen off a cliff of some sort. It echoed through the room and some of the hallway scaring a few of the patients.

“Serenity! Serenity, it’s ok! I got you. Its ok,” Ryan said trying desperately trying to calm her down.

The Screaming stopped as she opened her eyes. The room was a weird shade of gray and the walls were broken in some places. The plaster on the wall was deformed and moldy. In the room were weird objects, most of them seemed to look like devices used to restrain people. But in the middle were the two poles with which she was using for the duration of the physical therapy. Looking up she saw Ryan and his dim red eyes. He returned her gaze and hugged her tight while she was lying in his arms.

“You did a very good job…”

“Indeed, a very good job,” interrupted the doctor. “I saw the whole thing, looks like she is recovering faster then we had guessed. Once she is able to walk freely she can leave this hospital.”

“You hear that Serenity… Once you are able to walk you can leave this hospital,” Ryan paused briefly before finishing the sentence, “and you can come home with me… That is… I mean if you want too…”

Serenity was silent for a moment. Shortly after she returned his hug and grasped him tightly then let go. Putting her right hand on Ryan’s shoulder she forced herself upwards slowly staggering the whole way up. Ryan followed her up so as to support her. Letting go of his shoulder Serenity began her way back to the poles from which she came as Ryan just sat there staring in surprise. It was as if she was given all her strength back. Her determination was extraordinary; it was as if she had found the sole reason to keep on going in life.

Without anyone cheering her she made it to the poles. Even then, she proceeded down the path between the poles slowly step by step. It seemed like the chains that were binding her down earlier had been unshackled and she was now in full swing. Her legs were forcing themselves forward all on their own. She made it to the other end of the poles physically unscathed. Hobbling around she began her way across the path from which she had just came. The doctor and Ryan were both amazed and just kept staring in awe at her new determination from his words.

“I think she really wants to leave this hospital.” Said Ryan still watching her move along the pathway between the poles.

“Your kidding right? Ryan your so dense… She is trying so hard because she wants to be with you. Just look at her… Look hard at her and tell me it’s not because of you that she is trying now harder then she has ever tried before.”

Ryan gazed at her. She stumbled slightly on a step but recovered her balance quickly and started moving again. Her breathing was endless and her muscles were twitching. Her face gave off a very fierce expression as if anything put in her way would be dealt with accordingly.

“I see…” Was Ryan’s reply after understanding the doctors comment completely. “So do you think she can leave the hospital today?”

“Probably not but if this kind of progress keeps up, she will definitely be able to leave tomorrow. As for now I think that’s enough therapy for today.” The doctor slowly proceeded over to Serenity and put his hand on hers which was resting on the pole. It was greeted with a quick shove and the doctor backed off quickly.

“Looks like she doesn’t want to quit. If she works too hard though it won’t be good for her body. We need to get her to bed now.” Once again he tries the same process getting the same reaction.

Ryan walks up to Serenity, who was now at the end of the poles. She stops and looks up at him. Without hesitation Ryan swiped her off her feet into his arms. She pulled her arms in over her chest slightly shocked and scared at the same time as she gazed into his eyes.

“It’s time to rest, were going back to your room. You did a very good job today Serenity.“ Gradually Ryan carried Serenity to her room and lied her down on the bed rolling the covers over her. “Rest now and I’ll come back tomorrow, ok?”

She nodded in response and Ryan walked off out the door. The doctor was waiting leaning against the wall. “You know I’m beginning to think that she can only see or only comprehend you in her version of reality.”

“What’s that as post to mean?”

“I told you before about what the cause of her suffering is. Psychosis and memory loss are the main problems here. In the Psychosis sense, she is probably envisioning the world around her a lot differently then the way we are. She may be seeing surroundings from her past or just seeing things that are significant to her in some way or form. But what I meant from what I said earlier is that I think she can only see you as a complete individual. She can see your face, your expressions, your composure, your eyes, clothes, colors, emotions… You know what I mean… But when it comes to other people that she knows little about or nothing, this is the part where I have to hypothesize cause there is no way to know for sure what she sees, she could just be seeing shady human shaped figures of people. Figures without faces or expressions. Basically just empty shells that perform actions without any change in appearance.”

“That’s kind of weird, but I get what you’re saying…”

“All though my thoughts for helping her recover from it are still the same Ryan. We need to engage her socially at any costs. For that reason, tomorrow I hope you will take her home with you.”

“I will doc, don’t worry I already made up my mind. I’m not doing it cause you want me to anymore. I’m doing it because most importantly, I want to now. It’s funny but ever since I met her, the way I act around her, how I feel around her… It’s as if she has been helping me just as much as I’ve been helping her up to this point.”