Running On Empty

Chapter 10~ Jaylin

We had a big plastic box that held all or water and sodas that Silya had told me were used for keeping drinks cold. She told me that this was called a cooler. When we had gotten on the boat, Madeline had rolled me up the ramp and Garrett had brought these two long meatal sticks that had a handle on the side along. I found myself staring at those sticks for a long time before Garrett called out to me.

"Young Master, are you curious about those metal sticks? They are called crutches." The sides of his mouth were slowly turning into a slight smile which I had yet to see.

"I was just..." I made my eyes look down at my lap. "I just thought that they were very shiny against the sun, I didn't know the color black could shine out so much in weather like this."

Silya got up from her seat next to Garrett and Madeline peered over her shoulders where she stood, steering the boat. Then she had grabbed both of the metal sticks that were leaning against the side of the boat. I heard the sound of sandals make a soft plunk, plunk as she made her way towards me. She removed the sunglasses from face and moved them on top of her head. Then she held out her hand like she had done when she offered to dance in the rain with me. I felt my face get hot and my hands go all willy-nilly again. Her smile made it impossible for me to take my eyes off of her.

"Jaylin, you have to try this. I've got you, so lean on me." Her brown eyes glistened.

"OK," was all I could manage to say.

"I'll help you guys," Garrett said, getting up from his seat.

Garrett held the chair down as I shifted forward into Silya's outstretched arms. As soon as I landed on her chest, I could hear the sound of her rapid heartbeat against my ear. This was her being alive. It was a strong as a drum running a 5k. As I looked up, her gaze met mine and I saw the way it had lit up red and the way her mouth had let out a small laugh that she tried to hide. I felt the way the boat had rocked slowly back and forth as the two of us held each other and I felt helpless against the rush of energy that bust from the bottom of my toes.

Garrett had tried averting his attention from Silya and I as he pushed the wheelchair to the side. He motioned Silya to help walk me towards the tall metal sticks. Then I slipped my arms one at a time while I held on to Silya's shoulder.

"I'm going to let you go now," Silya said more to herself than to me.

I stood hunched over on my crutches as my legs started wobbling. "Thanks for your help you two." They both smiled and nodded with approval.

"We're here if you need our help, Jaylin." I could see tears start to form a little from Garrett's eyes.

"Now, try taking a step forward and we'll be sure to catch you if you start to fall." Silya smiled warmly to me and motioned me to take a step forward.

I placed the crutch in my right hand and I moved my left crutch forward and my left leg followed right next to it, then I moved my right crutches and my right leg followed after. I took a few more steps with my crutch and looked straight ahead to Madeline, feeling like I had gotten taller in a matter of seconds, and I was finally able to look right at Garrett and Silya were staring at me with amazement in their eyes. I moved across the boat, feeling the shifting from underneath me as the boat swayed slightly I heard that soft pounding of the crutch tips as I moved forward with each step. My shoulders shook violently and sweat ran down my face in a matter of seconds. I felt the wind blow in my face, opening up my eyes to see Madeline smile and clapping her hands. As I smiled, feeling my heart beating so hard and fast against my chest, My feet gave out from underneath me and I started falling forwards, Garrett ran in front of me, catching my fall and for the first time, I had heard Garrett laughing for the first time. His smile were so big, I could see his crocked teeth and his eyes closed shut as his ribs shook, trying to gasp for air.

"I knew it, Young Master!" I knew you could do it!" He embraced me, his arms wrapping around me and I felt my sides being squeezed tightly.

Madeline stopped the boat and run towards me, her arms stretched out, her eyes streaming out water. "I am so proud of, Young Master! She huddled with me and Garrett. I was suddenly in the middle of the two of them as they kissed my head and praised. I felt that warmth that made my heart glow. Silya stood to the side, her eyes on me and my servants. She had a sideways smile.

"You guys are all crazy," She said, putting the sunglasses back on her face.

Then all of us burst out laughing so hard that sometimes there were no sounds that came out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

That night, I pulled my notebook out of my bag and sat down on my cot that Madeline had bought so I could have an easier time sleeping. I took the picture of Silya and me sleeping out of my pocket and placed it on the inside of the cover and wrote yesterday's date on it, July 12, 2010. I decided to write about the boat ride today and how I had stood on my feet for the first time.

After I was done, I closed the notebook and headed outside the tent to sleep under the stars.

When I came outside the tent, I didn't see Silya. I decided to walk over to Madeline that was putting away the left over pasta noodles that had been cooked in a pot on the portable gas stove for dinner.

"Hello, Young Master," Madeline said, greeting me with a smile.

I shifted my body in my wheelchair a little as I felt butterflies in my stomach that appeared every time I thought of Silya. "Is Silya around?" I saw the way Madeline's eyes looked around mischievously.

"I think Miss Emerson is in her tent. I believe that she was talking to someone on the phone." Madeline walked over to me, "I just want to let you know how much fun we all had with you today."

She padded me on my shoulder and walked off to where Garrett was sitting in a chair near the fire.

I decided to wheel to Silya's tent and wait for her to finish her phone call. When I heard her voice I put the brakes on and listened to the sound of her voice.

"Yeah, I had a lot of fun today with him and Madeline and Garrett. " There was a pause before she busted out laughing.

"It's strange, I never thought I would have fun when I moved with my mom moths before... yeah, I know. I miss school too, especially being able to hang out with you guys." There was another long moment of silence.

"How is he doing? I know how much he had told me not to go, but I might have been better for me and my mom after all."

I looked at Silya's shadow that was reflected off the tent. This time, all the butterflies had disappeared from the bottom of my stomach and all sorts of questions flowed into my head like a desert that was being filled with water. Who was this other guy she had talked about? How long had the two of them known each other? Did she always laugh and smile around him? Why am I feeling so...so... Was there a certain word to my confusion, all the feelings that I flowed within me in three seconds?

I wheeled back, feeling uncertainty fill up inside of me. I pulled myself out of my wheelchair and underneath my sleeping bag. I had heard Silya walk over into her sleeping bag later on. I tried to calm my heart beat down and told myself over and over again that these feelings were just in the fleet of the moment. No matter what I did though, my eyes stayed wide awake and my ears listened to the sound of Garrett and Madeline talking and Madeline sleeping soundly a few meters next to me. Darkness casted over me as I closed my eyes.