I was anxious all week, Tim was doing fine. He could barely talk, and he was in and out of sleep the whole time. They were keeping him on pain medications and preparing him to make the long journey home. Bette and the boys were doing fine, they really like spending time with Bette and I was glad. I just wanted my family to love her.

Finally, my parents were home and Tim was being admitted to the hospital. I met my parents for lunch and we talked about what’s to come. Tim had a head injury they were treating him for and once his body healed and he regained strength, he’d be able to get out of the bed and eventually learn to walk with a prosthetic. He had a long road ahead, and we were all ready to help him with whatever he needed.

That Saturday, we decided to go see Tim, Bette held my hand as we drove. I was so scared to see him, I didn’t want to upset him, so I got all my tears out in the car. Bette was talking to me, trying to calm me, and for the most part it worked. As we parked, I gathered myself, and wiped my face. The boys were in the backseat, their headphones in, trying not to focus too much on me and my emotional state.

"I’m just gonna wait in the waiting area," Bette said, and I looked at her and panicked, I gripped her hand tightly, "ok, ok I’m sorry I’ll go in with you."

We walked in and my parents were standing around the bed. The boys followed behind Bette and we saw Tim hooked up to all kinds of machines, he had a neck brace on, an NG tube, he was on oxygen, and he was covered by a blanket. A few tears escaped my eyelids, and I muffled a cry. Bette put her arm on my shoulder and I wiped my tears away. Bette shook my father’s hand and hugged my mother, all the while the boys stayed hidden behind Bette and I.

"It’s ok boys," my mother said, gesturing for them to come closer, "it looks worse than it is."

They gave her a hug and my mother explained to us what was going on, and he seemed to be doing better, they were just taking precautions with him. I gripped his hand and he stirred awake, and I smiled at him. He tried to smile, but it was painful, he gripped my hand hard. He was telling me he loved me, he nodded a bit and the fell back asleep.