"You can, and you will walk again. You just need to have a positive mindset. Be determined, and it will be achieved."
Letting out a deep chuckle, Raine closed her eyes for a brief moment as she recalled the exact words of Dr. Crane.
Opening her eyes, a rush of emotions filled her gut as she stared at her disgusting state. Just then, the sky rumbled loudly as the platter of rain danced seductively around her window pane.
A sharp pain ran through her heart, and she couldn't help touching her chest in great misery as drops of water gushed down her eyes. Memories of that night rushed in like a dam left free.
The rain. The rain always falls, especially when good things want to happen to her. That's why her parents named her Raine, for she was born on a rainy day.
Raine remembered that night vividly like a movie was playing in her brain. She had been happy. She was so happy because her life was fulfilled. She had Jake, her boyfriend, Natalie, her best and a job at one of the prestigious companies in the city. All of it. They were a dream come true.
Sobbing quietly, Raine let out more tears as the sound of rain muffled her screams. She was supposed to be happy, dancing in the rain as usual, but now, she can't even lift her legs. They were gone.
A knock on the door followed by footsteps brought Raine back to reality. Quickly cleaning her face neat with her sweater, she wore a smile.
"Darlin..." Her mother said quietly, walking closer to her wheelchair. "Raine, I... are you ready for bed?" Her mother asked.
Closing her eyes, Raine blinked her eyes in response.
She watched her Mom... every night, her mom or dad would come to put her to bed. After the incident with her, her parents moved in with her taking care of her needs, and Raine hated every bit of it. She had cussed, was stubborn, and would throw a fit whenever it was time for check-ups, but they didn't mind her a bit. Instead, they understood. They took it all in when it wasn't their fault.
"I know I say this a lot, but I just want you to know that we are a room away. Just call on us, please... please. Last time you tried to leave the bed on your own, you fell off. Stop hurting yourself... please." Her mother had pleaded before stepping out of her room.
Blinking off the tears that stained her eyelid, Raine stifled the cries in her lungs.
"They don't deserve this." she whispered quietly. Staring at her wrist, Raine's thoughts went wild. "If only I could just..." Swallowing the spit in her mouth, her breath was shaky.
Whenever it rains now, Raine has always had that thought, "suicide." It clouds her thoughts just for a moment or so, but whenever she remembers how her parents still dote on her despite her condition, she couldn't help but be reminded that she's loved. Also by her brother, the eldest Simon, his wife, and their children.
Letting out a deep sigh, Raine closed her eyes, hoping sleep would come, but then, the sound of the rain woke her up, reminding her of her dreadful past four months. Her mind drifted back to when the incident took place.
Raine remembers it all. She had told Jake, her boyfriend, that she'd be traveling for a business despite knowing his birthday would be in five days.
Raine had wanted to tell her best friend, Natalie, of her plans, but for some reason, she had held it in.
To make her plan look real, Raine had traveled out of the country, but she had returned the evening before his birthday. Their favorite restaurant... she had wanted to book a reservation online but she decided to make it special so she had gone in person.
With a lazy love smile on her face, she drove from the airport to the restaurant. Packing her car wasn't hard, but the glimpse of who she saw when she came out made her shiver.
The sky had darkened, signaling the cause for rain, and Raine had wished deeply that her eyes had seen wrongly. Walking into the restaurant with a heavy step and a shaky breath, Raine had watched the lovey dovey moment between her boyfriend and best friend.
"How can I help you, ma'am?" The voice of the waiter had said, awakening a daring spirit in her soul.
Raine had pushed past the waiter and headed to the table, making sure the duo saw her the moment their lips almost locked on each other. The darkness that had loomed over them made them move away from each other like there was some sort of kryptonite nearby, and the sudden explanation from Jake's lip had left her laughing hard.
"I... Raine, I can explain. It is not what you think." That was all Raine needed to hear from him. The lie to her face.
She had marched out of the restaurant with a broken soul as rain fell on her. She rummaged through her purse to find her car keys. The moment the key was in, the car ignition was brought to life, and Raine had driven carelessly like a drunk driver only that... she was sober from love.
The next moment Raine would open her eyes, she was in a bright room.
She had wanted to stand up from the hospital bed, but a masculine hand had held her down.
"You are awake. Do you know your name?" The masculine voice had asked, and Raine couldn't help crying as memories of that night hit her.
She had had an accident. She knew she saw the tree but she couldn't stop her car from colliding with it.
"Where am I?" She had questioned, hoping for the wrong answer.
"You are at the hospital. I guess your memory came back to you seeing the look in your eyes. You had an accident which affected your spine. I am sorry." The doctor had said. "I have explained the situation to your parents and they..."
Whatever the doctor was saying wasn't heard anymore has Raine zoned out on his voice.
Her life had changed that day. She was told she had surgery, and though the injury in her spine was fatal, there's still a chance that she would be able to walk again as long as she is determined.
A therapy session was booked for her, checkups were made and she was taught that the spine could reorganize itself and that she shouldn't give up and Raine was strong, holding up until a text message on her phone ruined it all. A message from Jake.
Hello, Raine. I am sorry you had to find out this way. You are an amazing person, strong and independent. You are too good for me, and besides, I love her more than I do you. Thank you. The message read and attached to the text was a wedding invitation card, and Raine couldn't help succumbing to her sadness again.
Raine had given up many times, but her family was with her, and she had a good doctor, Dr. Crane, who never stops motivating her hours before her checkup.
Smiling sheepishly, her phone beeped on the bed beside her, and Raine couldn't help smiling at the text.
A few hours to your checkup. Put on your best dress and shoes because you are going to take a walk today.
Wearing a smile, Raine chuckled as she stared at her window pane again, and this time, she was filled with great determination.
"I'll walk." she whispered quietly.
Images are Ai generated.