New Reality

Sarah

Life as a wheelchair user is a challenging journey, but the support of the people around me is what motivates me every day to keep going, and not to give up on the goals I've set for myself, like walking again. My doctor assured me that the ability to walk depends primarily on my effort and dedication to follow the guidance of the professionals overseeing my recovery. And that's exactly what I've been doing, pushing myself to the maximum.

However, my emotional side often whispers to me about a painful absence: that of my twin sister, Rachel. She hasn't given any sign of life, hasn't tried to get in touch, not even once. The last conversation we had was right after the media reported the kiss between Enrico and me. She called, indignant about the situation, but after that, silence. No brief message, nothing.

On the other hand, my rational side tries to remind me not to dwell on these thoughts about Rachel. It insists that I forget she exists and focus on appreciating the people around me. Instead of lamenting the absence of someone who abandoned me without looking back, it's wiser to value those who stay and support me, especially considering that I, her twin, am now in a wheelchair.

I had been in Kael's mansion garden for just a few minutes, but these thoughts started to weigh me down. I longed to return inside, to the comfort of my room, where every moment with Kael was filled with happiness.

I looked around for Elvira, one of my nurses on duty at that moment. Usually, when I want to go to the garden, I ask someone for help since my electric wheelchair isn't suitable for unstable terrain. However, I realized at that moment that Elvira wasn't by my side, causing a certain unease.

She had disappeared without informing me, and my mind was so immersed in thoughts that I hadn't noticed her sudden departure. I tried to grab my phone to call someone who could help me get back inside, but I remembered I hadn't brought it with me. My anxiety increased, making me nervous and afraid. What if the nurse took too long? What if something had happened to her, leaving me forgotten in the garden? What if I urgently needed to use the bathroom? Would I have to deal with it alone?

The questions overwhelmed me to the point of feeling dizzy and nauseous, desperation taking hold of me. I looked in all directions, contemplating shouting so that someone could hear me and come to my aid. However, Mary wasn't at home; she had gone out to lunch with a friend, and Maira had been absent for two days, visiting her adoptive parents. Kael was at the company, and Ryan had traveled to London on behalf of his brother to handle important business.

I was alone with the nurses, which was quite common. I had always been resistant to making people stop living their lives to take care of me. That wouldn't be fair. And, to be fair, there were several people in the house, all probably willing to help me. The problem was how to reach out to one of them when I had asked the nurse to take me so far from the residence.

After a few minutes of anxiety, with Elvira still not appearing to help me, my mind started to conjure up catastrophic scenarios. Dizziness and nausea reached their peak, and I could no longer contain my breakfast. I trembled intensely, overcome by nervousness, and finally decided to face my fears. I decided to try using my wheelchair even on that unstable terrain. I pressed the button that should move it forward, but nothing happened, not even a millimeter of movement.

I pressed the button again, this time with more force, not anticipating the impulse the chair normally gave before starting to move. I was propelled forward with such force that I almost fell from the chair.

"Sarah!" I heard Kael's voice shout.

Despite the enormous and sudden scare, fortunately, I didn't fall from the chair as I had feared. At that moment, Kael appeared by my side, and I looked at him still quite shocked, nervous, and shaken. I could do nothing more than reach out my arms and ask for his embrace.

"What happened, my love?" He asked, also visibly concerned.

His arms surrounded me, and he carried me to one of the benches in the garden, with me still in his arms.

"Why were you alone here?"

I was not in a condition to answer the first or the second question. My head was buried in the curve of his neck, seeking comfort.

"It's okay; you can explain to me later what happened," he agreed, adopting a calmer tone.

Kael understood that I wasn't ready to talk, and so we remained, just holding each other. My erratic breath gradually normalized, as did the frenetic beats of my heart.

When he noticed that I was calmer and closer to my usual state, he began to speak again.

"I came to have lunch together today," he explained the reason for being at home, "I missed my wife..."

I felt his lips place a few kisses on my hair, but I remained in the same position, feeling comfortable and secure, in contrast to how I was minutes earlier.

"I know you were worried about me being alone at home, so you decided to come for lunch today," I said. "I won't complain about you doing that."

Although I didn't like or approve when Kael postponed important commitments just to avoid leaving me alone, even though there was an entire team of staff in the house, I couldn't deny that I appreciated his care.

"Can't I miss you?" he tried to joke. "After all, don't you miss me, Sarah?"

His attempt at lightness worked, and I smiled at his words.

"All right, maybe you're right because today I felt your absence," I confessed with a smile.

"Just today? That makes me very sad!"

I remember what happened a few minutes ago, and the smile on my face is instantly wiped away.

Even without looking at each other, Kael seems to sense this, confirming how much we have grown closer in recent days and the connection we share.

"What happened, Sarah?" He insisted again. "Why were you here alone?"

His insistence on knowing what happened doesn't irritate me. I am fully aware of my condition and understand that being something recent, I am still adapting and need the help of others. Therefore, I don't mind his curiosity.

I decide to leave my comfort position, looking at him as I recount all the details of the incident in the garden. As I explain how I ended up alone and vulnerable due to my awareness of my loneliness, I notice that Kael looks at me with a concerned expression. His sigh carries a touch of irritation.

"Elvira shouldn't have left you alone out here," he finally comments. "If she needed to be absent for whatever reason, she should have informed someone in the house. Especially when I've been here for some time, and she still hasn't returned."

Coincidentally, at that moment, Elvira appears. Her expression doesn't show any fear or embarrassment when she finds us sitting together on the garden bench.

"Why did you leave Sarah alone here?" Kael asks, his voice is laden with censure.

Only then does Elvira seem concerned, and her gaze becomes frightened, by the way Kael addresses her without even greeting her first.

"Kael!" I reprimanded him, embarrassed by his behavior.

Kael seems to understand what I'm complaining about and backtracks on his approach.

"I apologize for my bluntness, but I am quite bothered to have arrived here and found Sarah alone in this part of the property, where she still can't move without assistance," Kael explains, his tone still firm.

"The apology is mine, Mr. Graham," the nurse admits. "I thought there would be no problem in leaving Sarah alone for a while since she usually stays here reading and loses track of time. I didn't think she would miss me."

The way they were handling the situation didn't please me. I felt like they were talking about me as if I weren't present. Elvira's response worsened the situation since I am perfectly capable of noticing someone's absence.

I hadn't shared with Kael, but Elvira had done things in the past that displeased me, although I hadn't reprimanded her. However, I wouldn't accept people speaking for me, as is happening now.

"I don't understand why you thought you could leave and leave me alone here without even letting me know you were leaving. You spent all this time inside, and you still believe I wouldn't notice Elvira," I said, deciding to confront the situation on my own. "I won't take any action regarding what happened today, but I hope this won't happen again."

"It won't happen again, Sarah," she promises.

Despite the words, her expression showed a certain disdain, and I couldn't help but feel that the target was me. I didn't feel good about it.

The sound of applause draws our attention, and everyone turns to the noise. My heart races when I see who is standing a few meters away from us.

"At last, you stopped being a fool and are reacting, Sarah," unexpectedly, these words come from the mouth of my twin sister.