Page 34 of Stand: Part One

Clive’s eyes sharpened. “Jaden, what are you doing?”

Ignoring him, I began to raise my foot into the air, holding it out in front of me as I gripped the side of the bed for balance.

“Jaden, you’re supposed to be resting,” Owen chastised.

“Fuck that.” I was so tired of being a prisoner of this bed.

Lifting my foot another inch, I could feel the muscles in my leg protesting, the weight seeming overbearing and unnatural. The same feeling came with the other leg.

“Jaden, why do you always have to push?” Clive complained with a sigh.

“Because I drink a tall serving of dumb bitch juice every morning. Now go get my damn dog.”

Clive groaned aloud, pulling out his phone to make the call while Owen crossed the room and quickly swooped my legs back onto the bed.

“Hey!”

“Knock it off,” he snapped before stepping away.

I glared at him, folding my arms in front of me and lifting my feet one foot at a time while I lay back on the bed.

“I want to go out on the balcony,” I announced, keeping my tone even.

“And I want you to stop being a pain in the ass,” Owen replied.

“Then bring me my stupid wheelchair, or I’ll just drag my ass out there, and you can explain to Darren how I managed that on my own.”

Owen rolled his eyes and brought my wheelchair from the corner of the room to my side of the bed. Sliding my ass over to the edge, I maneuvered into the chair and rolled myself away and onto the balcony that opened up to the expansive backyard and the gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean.

A few moments later, I heard the sound of Camaro entering the bedroom. I sat back and whistled for her to find me. She responded immediately with a quiet bark and made her way toward the special call I was making.

“Hey, pretty girl!” I sang when she entered the balcony and placed her head on my knee. “You smell so nice and clean.” She whined as she wiggled her butt, her little nub of a tail wagging in small circles.

When she was settled next to my chair, and Clive and Owen were quiet inside the bedroom, I took my opportunity.

Rolling my wheelchair a little closer to the white stone railing, I leaned forward and placed my hands over the ledge. Carefully placing my feet on the ground, I inched forward from my seat, gripped the ledge, and yanked myself up.

The blood didn’t rush as fast this time; I was a little more prepared. What I wasn’t prepared for was how euphoric it felt to be standing on my own—without an audience. No help from Darren to steady me. No help from Sid to guide me. Just me and my broken-ass body following instinct and muscle memory.

A breeze blew from the shore and flowed through my hair, giving me a false sense of hope that all of this bullshit would be over soon. I was recovering at a snail’s pace, and I had a strong feeling it was being done on purpose.

The question was why?

Why keep me disabled and vulnerable?

It didn’t make sense.

“Goddammit, Jaden!” Clive snapped angrily as he stormed his way onto the balcony. “Sit the fuck down before you hurt yourself.”

“I feel fine, actually,” I replied, ignoring his aggravation. And I really did. There was no pain or discomfort, and I felt much more stable than I had earlier. My knees were weak but steady. And my confidence was already rising, giving me the strength I needed to keep going.

“Sit. Down.”

I felt my entire body stiffen from the stern order that came from behind, the voice dark and threatening. When the shock wore off, I felt myself deflate entirely, followed by a sigh of frustration.

Releasing the ledge, I lowered myself back into the wheelchair, my shoulders slumping and my face glaring out into the ocean.

I didn’t even turn around to acknowledge Darren’s presence, but I didn’t have to when I could feel him standing directly behind me.