Leo's Life After the Accident

Sleeping comfortably with robotic arms and legs was the hardest part for Leo. As a sixty five year old man it was something to get used to. Remembering to unplug the chargers before getting out of bed was particularly hard. Forgetting would mean pulling on the cables and yanking the chargers out of the wall sockets possibly damaging them or his new mechanical appendages. The hospital explained accidental damage isn't covered under the warranty. Losing one’s arms and legs in a car accident usually kills someone, considering the blood loss alone. But, thanks to modern science and a quality public health care system of the future Leo was now outfitted with the finest robotic, pneumatic, titanium appendages. Granted Leo now weighs a couple hundred extra pounds, but he can run faster than a twenty year old, if his hips don’t give out and shatter first. Titanium is hard on elderly bone sockets. He had to get a new bed that could support the weight of his new found metallic frame. His snapped from the extra weight the first night home. Learning and controlling his strength was also difficult. He killed his granddaughter’s new puppy the first time he picked it up. That was quite a splatter.  She hasn’t spoken once in the three months hence and no one in the family has dared hugging Leo either; fear of becoming wall art like the young labrador keeps anybody from attempting. But, lack of human contact aside, Leo now has the strength to lift a small car over his head provided his elderly spine doesn’t snap like a twig from the weight of that car. Sometimes Leo wonders why any doctor would turn a sixty five year old man with a heart condition into such a technological amalgam. But, science knows best, right? Now his days involve waking up, not only himself,but the entire building since he has to clunk about on the hardwood of his third floor apartment. These robotic deals may be top of the line, but they’re are not quiet. Those motors get pretty loud once he is up and going. He makes coffee and drinks it if he can manage to not shatter the mug. He has a few extra on hand just in case. Two weeks is his all time best record. Leo takes a shower, hopefully without tearing his skin off, and then gets dressed. Once again hoping he doesn’t horribly injure any of the human parts he has left in the process.  After he is ready Leo heads out to the park for a stroll. Walking around an empty open field seems to be the best activity for Leo. Until his hips get too sore to walk. Thankfully, there is a concrete bench at the park that can support his weight. Leo will sit and stare, waving at those who seem nice. This helps to keep Leo distracted from his predicament, getting up off the bench. Granted his new legs can get him up from the bench just fine. It’s not launching himself a hundred yards that is the hard part. Eating was also taken from Leo by science. If he is not snapping the spoon or fork he is nearly sending it into his eye socket painting the back of his skull with applesauce. But, all in all Leo’s life is good. That’s what he tells himself. He doesn’t have much choice. You play the cards you’re dealt and Leo was dealt being a sixty five year old bionic experiment that his friends, family, and strangers fear.