“Eagles don't catch flies.” Desiderius Erasmus
There was a time, before the accident, Dray lived and breathed running and jogging. When he was a kid he loved running. That love had carried throughout his life as he became part of a community track team for boys ages seven to nine. From there he went on to participate on several teams throughout grade school, middle school, and high school. One of the three scholarships he received was an athletic scholarship to run track at University of Memphis but he had opted out and chosen to attend a university out of state. He ran track throughout college and after graduating he began to actively participate in marathons. His dream was to run the Boston Marathon but as he lay in the bed at the rehab, he wondered if those dreams had been dashed.
He tried over and over without success to remember what happened. Bethany told him about the hit and run but his memory about it was shot. When he first saw Bethany after waking from the coma, he had to be reminded about their engagement and upcoming wedding. It upset Dray every time the thought of what happened to him and Bethany played in his mind and the fact his memory was shoddy.
“Dang,” he said, pounding his hand against the bedrail as forcefully as he could. “Why can’t I remember? God, restore my memory. Please, God.” He was almost in tears when the door to his room opened and distracted him from his thoughts.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Chynna said as she entered his room.
“Chynna? What are you doing here?” This worried him even more because why did he remember Chynna, remember their relationship, remember how tumultuous it had been between them, yet he could barely remember Bethany?
“I’m here to check on you. How are you feeling, Dray?”
Chynna was on her best behavior. She had no plans to stay long but she wanted to see his reaction, had to know how much he remembered, if anything, about her dastardly deed. Plus, she loved Dray and though she was good at putting on a strong front around others, she felt terrible about allowing her need to get revenge overrule her mind and cause her to do what she’d done.
The longer she stood at his bedside, the more she understood Dray didn’t recall anything. “So you’re telling me you have no idea who could have done this?” Chynna prodded.
“No, I…why would anyone intentionally run down me and Beth? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Well, it may not make sense but according to the news, that’s exactly what’s being reported. The two of you were walking across the street when you were run down by only God knows who,” Chynna explained, while taking hold of his hand in hers.
“But who? Who would do something like this, Chynna?”
“I can’t believe you don’t know more. Haven’t the detectives or anyone from the police department come to question you?”
“Yes, but I can’t remember a thing.” Dray appeared more confused and uncertain, hearing what Chynna said.
“You don’t remember anything, Dray?”
“Nope, but I do remember me and you.”
“Ohhhh, goody. I knew you couldn’t forget us. Not ever.” Chynna smiled, leaned down, and kissed Dray on the lips.
He frowned slightly. “I remember I told you to get the hell outta my life, so what are you doing here?”
Chynna feigned crying. She wiped her eyes, batted her lashes and said, “How can you be so cruel? I know we’ve had our share of ups and downs, but I thought you would always at least care about me a little like I care about you. Hearing that you could have died tore me to pieces. I mean, hearing on the news that you’d been run down like that, it made me sick to my stomach. But I stayed away, Dray. I prayed every single day. I wanted to be by your side so badly but I knew that it was over between us. Today I’m here only to see for myself how you’re doing.” She wiped more tears and spoke soft and sweet. “I know I shouldn’t be here, but I hoped you would find it in your heart to move past the hurt and at least we could be cordial. I’ll always love you, but I’ve accepted the fact it’s over between us. I…I wish you and Barbara the best.”
“Bethany,” Dray said, feeling bad that he’d been so mean to Chynna.
“Excuse me?” Chynna said.
“Her name is Bethany,” Dray told her. “And you’re right. I’m sorry, Chynna. Thank you for thinking about me, for coming to see me.”
“I love you, Dray. I’ll always love you, and no matter what you say or even if you marry her, you can never convince me that you don’t feel the same about me. I’ll let you get your rest. Please get well soon.” She leaned in and kissed him on the lips again, then turned and sashayed out of the room leaving Dray speechless.
“It’s about that time—your last therapy session for the day,” the physical therapist said as he entered Dray’s private room. “You ready to do this?”
“I…I don’t feel up to it.”
“I can’t let you give up like that, man. If you want to get out of here and get on with your life, you have to work hard. You have to push yourself.”
Dray grew irritated. He didn’t need anyone telling him what he needed to do, not at this point. He knew the hard work it would take to get him out of this god-awful place. He wanted out of rehab. He wanted to be normal again, run again, live his life again. He wanted his memory back.
“Look, I hear you but I can’t do it. I’m hurting. We’ll do it tomorrow.” Dray pushed the Call button as the PT stood looking at him like he’d heard this same kind of excuse a million times before. But he didn’t push Dray.
“Okay, I’ll let you pass this evening, but we’re working extra hard tomorrow. If you want out of here by this weekend, you’re going to have to push yourself like never before. ”
“Yeah, sure thing.”
“How can I help you?” the nurse asked as the PT threw up his hand, nodded at Dray, and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
“I need something for pain,” Dray said.
“Someone will be in there shortly. We’re getting afternoon meds ready now.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Dray turned his head toward the window and stared aimlessly at the dark clouds forming outside. It was only a little after 4:30 p.m., but the clouds were ominous, scary dark, almost black. He heard a boom of thunder that seemed to make the building shake. A long, thick stream of lightning danced across the sky. It was the perfect display for how he felt.