The Bridge

Brain Log [6]

Doctor Ranjeet said I had awakened from my coma after exactly two weeks and when I told him I'd seen myself walking around the hospital skipping over the crazy details, he explained that it was my brain trying to regulate the new reality of me being bedridden. I bit my lip from telling him about the footsteps even when he smiled and asked If I had any more questions before he allowed my family inside. I couldn't see the angry woman anymore but I couldn't ask him why. He couldn't explain why I died, I don't think he could explain why I don't see ghosts anymore.

“James!” Miranda yells running to me, pulling me into a deep hug. I still couldn't move the other half of my body, the doctor had told me that soon I'd have to go through physical therapy to recover. He was pretty optimistic.

“Son, how are you? We thought we had lost you'' My mom stood nervously beside Miranda. I smile.

“It was my recklessness and I'm paying for it” I croaked, tears slipping out of my eyes before I could hold it “I'm sorry”

“I'm just glad you're alive.” she cries hugging me. That hurt me, I can't believe I stupidly almost got myself killed.

“How's my nephew, have you been eating well?” I ask my sister, taking pleasure from her shocked expression “I heard everything, I just couldn't wake up to reply. I tried” They both grow awkward around that topic, I go silent.

“When are they going to discharge you? Your father went to pray as soon as he heard the news. If it takes long he will come and get you” I smile at the news, my father had strayed afar from God years ago. We were never believers but, he was born into it because of his Hispanic mother. When she died earlier than she was supposed to he'd lost all hope and hated everything related to his religion.

“When the paperwork for my physical therapy is done.”

“Can you walk?” My mom nervously asks, hoping it won't offend me.

“I don't have any function below my waist yet, hence the physical therapy. They poked around and have high hopes.”

“We wanted to hire people to take care of you but your father wanted to be the one. You know nobody can fight that man when he puts something in his mind. He's going to live with you” She smiles, my father is known for his stubbornness this news doesn't really surprise me.

“Do you remember the accident at all?” I shook my head at Miranda “They found you scattered, your legs were taken in separately. They thought you were caught on something sharp and it was a clean cut” I shuddered, and my mom tapped on her shoulder warning her to not continue “Seeing you here right now, alive. It feels unreal. When I visited the site two days later straight after coming here. I couldn't bear it. Your blood was still there. Fragments of you and your bike were still there”

“M-my legs?” I stammer, feeling chills traveling down my spine. When I threw the blankets I saw traces of incision done around my hips to attach the legs I had now, It wasn't mine. They appear different.

“These are not my legs! They aren't mine” I cry out, slamming my hands against the bed. My sister leaps away from shock, and my mother runs for the doctor but I know it is too late. I cry for my lost legs.