"Every Breath I Take" chapter 2

I just got home from a nightmare trip to the mall and found a very pleasant surprise in my inbox; Cathy had sent me another chapter of "Every Breath I Take" - seeing the first part published here had boosted her imagination. I am very happy to see a plot building in this chapter and a direction for the storyline - and I hope you'll enjoy it too.

In her email Cathy said that she's working on outlining the plot as a multi chapter story. It looks like we've got plenty more story to look forward to! :-)

And again: Josh's condition is fictional and I take no responsibility for the medical accuracy of this story.  

Chapter 2

Even though Andrew had insisted that Josh should bring his ventilator when he came to watch the football game with him Josh was a bit unsure of what to do. Josh didn’t know who’d be at Andrew’s house that evening, he hoped it would be just him and Andrew.

He climbed into the driver’s seat of his car and placed his mobile ventilator in the foot well on the passenger side.  The ventilator remained hooked up to his tracheostomy tube and Josh had to admit to himself it was good to not be short of breath with a headache all the time as he turned the key in the ignition.

# - # - #

“Hi Josh, come on in,” Andrew greeted him and stepped aside so Josh could walk into his condo. He had the wheelie bag with his ventilator in tow and it was still attached to the tracheostomy tube in his throat. The bright blue ventilator tubes were very visible against his white polo shirt, but during the drive over to Andrew’s place he’d decided that he didn’t really care. He was looking forward to watching a football game with his best friend and he wanted to be able to enjoy the game without struggling to breathe and developing a headache.

“Good to see you, Andrew. How are you?”

“I’m good. How ‘bout you? You look really good. Looks like the ventilator is working for you.”

“I’m really good, thanks. I can’t remember the last time I was feeling this well. Upping my ventilator hours has definitely been a good thing and I’m going to see my doctor for a follow up appointment tomorrow, it’s been about a month since I was there last.”

“I bet he’ll be happy with your progress,” Andrew said as they made their way to the living room where he gestured at the couch.  “Make your self comfortable. There’s an open outlet on the far end of the couch, if you want to save battery power. Want a beer?”

“A beer sounds great to me,” Josh said as he sat down on the couch. He plugged the ventilator into the open outlet Andrew had offered him to use.  He was happy that Andrew treated the “new” him so matter-of-factly and asked questions without being awkward.

# - # - #

The following morning Josh woke up at 7 am as usual.  He deflated the cuff in his tracheostomy tube and switched off the ventilator he used at night and unhooked the ventilator tubes. After he’d plugged his tracheostomy tube he headed to the bathroom where he did his normal morning routine of a shower, shaving, brushing his teeth and taking care of his tracheostomy. He finished the tracheostomy care by inserting a clean pad behind the outer cannula and neck plate and adjusting the strap around his neck that held the tracheostomy tube in place so it was comfortable.  He didn’t feel the need to suction his lungs, they seemed clear and he headed back to the bedroom to get dressed. He opted for a pair of dark jeans with black leather belt a plaid button down shirt he tucked into the jeans.

An hour and a half later he was sitting in his doctor’s waiting room, with the portable ventilator at his side. He had debated on whether he should go without it to his doctor’s appointment, but breathing had been difficult from the moment he’d unhooked his nighttime ventilator and after the forty minutes his morning routine took he’d already started to feel a headache building.  It had been a relief when he’d hooked up the portable ventilator to his tracheostomy tube after he finished dressing and he didn’t feel like going without breathing aid today. 

Doctor Newman was surprised when Josh entered his office with his portable ventilator in tow and the ventilator tubing attached to his tracheostomy tube. Josh had been so unhappy when he learned that his lungs had deteriorated further and he was getting rapidly closer to depending on a ventilator 24/7.  The doctor sure hadn’t expected him to be using his ventilator in public, but he was pleased that Josh seemed to be adapting and he did look much healthier than he had a month ago. 

“This is a surprise,” the doctor greeted him, gesturing to the ventilator tubes draped across his chest.

“Surprised myself too, to be honest,” Josh said with a wry grin.  “I struggled to breathe unaided for less than an hour while I was doing my morning routine today. It was such a relief to have the ventilator to help me breathe again that I decided to stay on it for the day.”

“You’re adapting,” doctor Newman stated. It wasn’t a question. “And you’re looking well.”

“I am adapting. It’s really good to not have constant headaches and I feel more energized. My boss says my work this past month has been better than ever.”

“And you’re not bothered by being seen in public with your ventilator? I know that was a concern of yours.”

“I’m not thrilled about it, but I’m starting to realize it’s a more important to be able to breathe easily than to avoid some curious stares.”

“Good thinking,” the doctor said with a crooked grin.  He proceeded to ask Josh to disconnect the ventilator and plug his tracheostomy tube and then he did the same tests he’d done on Josh’s previous visit and he was pleased with the progress he’d made.  As Josh removed the plug in his tracheostomy and connected the ventilator to his tracheostomy tube again the doctor gave him the results.

“These numbers are really good, Josh.  They’re a massive improvement from last time you were here. And your lungs sound really clear; you’re really good at keeping up with the suctioning.”

“It’s not pleasant, but I know it’s important.  I’ve got good routines set for that and my tracheostomy care and I don’t deviate from those routines.”

“Keep up the good work and I think you’ll stay in good shape, despite your lung condition. One thing that’s important is that you don’t overestimate your endurance. I know you feel much better now, but you should still use your wheelchair when you want to cover longer distances that walking to and from your car or fetching the mail.”

“Got it,” Josh said. “Although I breathe easier I still get tired pretty fast if I move around too much.”

“I’ll see you again in a month. Schedule your next appointment at the front desk before you leave, okay?”

“Absolutely. Thanks, doc.”

# - # - #

Maggie stopped in her tracks as she was waking over to the two guests the hostess had just shown to a table in her section of the restaurant.  There were two guys seated at the table and one of them had some sort plastic tubes attached to something on the base of his throat and a white band around his neck appeared to keep it in place.  It reminded her of the ventilator tubes she’d seen coming out of her grandmother’s mouth when she’d been intubated an on a ventilator after her stroke. The blue tubes ended up in a black wheelie bag he had placed next to his chair.

He was about her age, maybe a little older, and she realized he was pretty good looking. Short, somewhat messy reddish brown hair, a sprinkling of freckles across his nose and light brown eyes. He was dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a navy blue polo shirt.  It looked like he and his friend were discussing something; they were both gesturing and just as she reached their table they both burst out laughing about something.

“Hi, I’m Maggie and I’ll be your server today,” she greeted them as she handed them both menus. They both thanked her as they took them from her and she noticed the guy with the tubes coming from his throat had a great smile. She smiled warmly at him as she asked if he wanted a drink. He ordered an iced tea and his friend ordered a Coke.

# - # - #

“Dude, that waitress was totally flirting with you,” Andrew exclaimed as she walked away to fetch their drinks. 

“Get real,” Josh scoffed. “There’s no way a pretty girl like that is interested in a freak show like me.”

“You need to stop thinking like that, Josh. Believe it or not you’re an attractive guy.”

“Who needs to be on a ventilator most of the time to even be able to breathe. Being hooked up to this such a babe-magnet,” Josh said, pointing to the ventilator who was humming steadily next to him. “I’ve resigned myself to being perpetually single.”

“That’s just stupid, Josh.”

Further conversation was interrupted by Maggie returning with their drinks. Josh thought she was very cute; she was rather tall for a girl and curvy in a good way. Her long, strawberry blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail and he noticed her piercing blue eyes and perfect lips that looked really kissable. He pulled his brain back to the present and ordered a Club Sandwich and a side order of French fries when she asked him what she wanted.

“Coming right up,” she said with a smile and a wink and walked away.  Maybe Andrew was right? She did seem to be flirting. 

The small signs kept coming through their meal and when she handed him the check his jaw dropped; on top of the bill there was a small piece of paper with her name and phone number on it.

“What? You look like you just saw a ghost or something,” Andrew said after a few beats of stunned silence. “Is there something wrong with the bill?”

“She gave me her number,” Josh said, tucking the slip of paper into his jeans pocket. He was at a loss for what to do.

“What did I tell you? Do you have business cards on you?” Josh nodded. “Leave one for her and write ‘Call me!’ or something like that on it.”

Josh left his business card, as well as a generous tip for Maggie. Then he pulled up the handle of the bag with his ventilator and stood up.  He smiled shyly at Maggie as she grabbed the folder from the table as he followed Andrew out of the restaurant. He still wasn’t comfortable with the stares he was on the receiving end of.

When he was settled into the drivers seat of his car he pulled the piece of paper with Maggie’s number on from his pocket and added it to the contacts on his iPhone. He wondered if he’d hear from her, or if he should be the one to take the initiative. He hadn’t dated since high school and had no idea how to approach this. He envied Andrew’s confidence.

# - # - #

A couple of days later Josh still hadn’t heard from Maggie. He was tempted to call her, but he struggled work up the courage to take the first step.  As he finished his work for the day he glanced out the window; it was a beautiful day and he was getting restless from being coped up in his office all day.  He decided to take his electric wheelchair out for a spin in the park down the block.  Although he felt better his doctor had warned him about overestimating his endurance and ordered him to keep using the wheelchair when needed to cover longer distances than walking to and from his car or mailbox.

After he’d attached the portable ventilator to the back of his wheelchair with the straps that had been fitted there for just that purpose he sat down and switched on the power.  A few moments later he was rolling down the sidewalk toward the park.  He enjoyed the feeling of the sun and wind on his face and a smile tugged on the corners of his mouth.

When he reached the park he bought a large cup of coffee from the cart by the entrance and then he made his way to his favorite spot; a secluded bench by the pond. Not many people were familiar with it and he was usually able to sit there undisturbed for longer periods of time and just enjoy the quietness.  He was relieved to find deserted, just as he hoped to. He parked the wheelchair next to the bench and sat there, sipping his coffee and enjoying the view.  

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been there when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket; it was a text message from Maggie.

Hi Josh,
I don’t know if you even remember me – Maggie – the waitress at Applebee’s. I was just wondering if you have any plans this coming weekend. It’s my weekend off (yay!) and I was hoping you and I could get together and do something and hopefully get to know each other a little. 
-M

Josh felt his palms becoming sweaty as he read and re-read the message several times. She wanted to do something together with him and she wanted to get to know him. He started to type a reply. Then he deleted it and started over again. And then he deleted that reply too.  It took him nine attempts to come up with something he felt was acceptable.

Hi Maggie,
Of course I remember you. J I’m happy you took the initiative. I don’t have plans for the weekend and I’d really like to get together with you and do something.  As you may have guessed I’m not up for anything physically straining. My initial thought was to suggest a movie, but that’s not a great way of getting to know each other.  Maybe we could meet somewhere for lunch? If you have ideas, I’m game for most things.
Josh

His thumb hovered over the send button for a few moments before he finally pushed it and the message went through. Now all he could do was to wait for her to reply.

To be continued.