"Still looks pretty swollen." Matt surveyed his leg.
Damon winced as a stabbing phantom pain pierced the bottom of his non-existent foot. The phantom pains started yesterday, and according to the doctor, they could last from a few weeks to a couple months. Possibly even years.
Damon was not thrilled with that news. He hoped it was the former and not the latter.
"Doc said it could take six to eight weeks for the swelling to go away completely."
"When do they fit you with the prosthetic?" Steven asked.
"Shortly after that, but it will only be temporary. I probably won't get a permanent one for twelve weeks or so."
Matt looked around the room as if searching for something. "So, you're getting around on crutches in the meantime?"
"Wheelchair. I'm still too weak and unsteady for crutches."
"Well, don't you look spiffy." Mom walked into the room carrying a small gift bag. "They must have let you shower. How do you feel?"
"Better, but I couldn't believe how utterly exhausting it was."
"I'll bet." Mom set the bag at the foot of his bed and patted his right leg. "Remember what Dr. Campbell said. 'It's a marathon, not a sprint.’ Healing takes time."
"I know."
He'd thought a lot about what Dr. Campbell said Damon’s first day here. He decided he was going to do his best to make the most of this second chance at life and live each day with gratitude and purpose.
With the guilt that ate at him, the nightmares that soaked him in a cold sweat, and the shroud of depression that hung over him, it was going to be much harder than he thought. Not to mention the monumental effort it took just to go to the bathroom.
"Did Grace get off okay?" Matt asked Mom.
"Grace?" Just her name caused Damon's blood pressure to spike. He couldn't decide if it was in a good way or a bad way. "She's still here?"
"Well, not anymore." Mom smoothed his blanket. "She just caught the shuttle to the airport."
Why had she stayed when he told her he didn't want her here?
"What's the matter, Damon? Did she forget to come kiss you goodbye?" Steven's tone was teasing.
Damon gave his mom a questioning look. He’d thought the whole family would have heard by now that he’d broken up with Grace.
Mom returned his gaze, her expression innocent.
"You didn't tell them?" His question was quiet.
"Tell us what?" Curiosity was written all over Steven's face while Matt studied Damon carefully.
Mom's eyebrows arched, telling him that if his brothers were going to find out he broke up with Grace, it would be from him. But he wasn't sure he wanted to tell them. His family loved Grace and would think he was an idiot for letting her go.
Maybe he was. But they wouldn't understand that he did it for Grace's sake. So she could move on with a man who could give her everything he couldn’t.
Just the thought twisted a knife in his chest.
"Nothing," Damon mumbled.
Mom gave him a lecture three days ago, right after he broke up with Grace, about how just because he was hurting didn't give him the right to hurt others. She'd also told him that pushing away the ones who loved him the most wouldn't make him feel any better.
She was right, but it didn't change the fact that Damon knew he'd done the right thing.
"What's in the bag, Mom?" Matt asked.
