Stepping into Psycho

Carissa thought about those who believed there was a God who didn't give people more than they could handle. Not being rescued by Flora may have been more than she could handle. But there was still something about the whole situation that seemed a little too good to be true. How could she be that lucky? But then she reminded herself that for the most part, she was anything but lucky. She had slept more than half her life away and lost everyone she had ever loved. That wasn't exactly lucky, was it? She missed Leyton terribly. The coma had put her in a bit of a time warp. To her, she had only just lost him. She thought of him and felt a pang of sadness knowing that she would never be able to look into those hazel eyes ever again or run her fingers through his sandy brown hair. She saw her mother's smile and heard her father’s laughter in her mind. And then she thought of Clarabelle. They'd been friends since they were ten years old. They'd shared so many first-time experiences together. They had confided in one another when they were unsure of something. They had kept each other up to date on the local gossip and the latest trends, and so much more. And now, because she hadn't taken the wheel as she'd briefly considered, her best friend and the guy she probably would have married were dead. Her mind then shifted back to Flora. She felt drawn to her and comfortable around her. Flora was a very peppy yet easygoing person. There was something in those vivid blue eyes that captivated her and made her want to be around her as much as she could. She always looked forward to whenever she would step into the room, a big smile on her face. But why was she being so kind and generous? She may have had an extra room in her house and the funds to help her get anything she might not be able to afford on her own, but were people usually this kind? If they were, then wow. The world had really changed for the better while she was out cold. The hospital kept her for an entire month after waking up. Her physical injuries had healed despite her weakened muscles, and she hadn't suffered any significant memory loss. With continued physical therapy and exercise, she should be no more or less strong than anyone else her size and age. It just might be several months before she got there. For now, she had to move about slowly, and she couldn't lift any heavy objects. She also couldn't walk for long periods of time, but little by little, she walked a bit farther each day. Finally, it came time to leave. She was both terrified and excited. Excited might not even be an appropriate word for it, but more like curious. Because she really liked Flora, she was curious to learn more about her and discover what living with her might be like. A young nurse helped her get dressed early on the morning she was due to leave. It was Saturday, Flora's day off. She would be by to pick her up in less than fifteen minutes. What if she never shows up? What if she completely abandons me and never even returns to work here? she thought with a shiver. Oh, stop! Don't let your mind run away with such pessimistic, paranoid, and unfounded thoughts. Besides, the hospital isn't going to just kick you out on the streets if she were to disappear. But she won't disappear! As if to prove her own point to herself, Flora entered the room humming happily. "Hey, sweetie. Ready to go?" Carissa looked up at her, feeling relieved even though she didn't seriously believe she would desert her. She looked different out of scrubs. She wore jeans and a simple T-shirt. She usually wore mascara and a touch of lipstick, but today she had no makeup on. Her eyes still held an air of friendliness with a touch of joy and humor as well. "I sure am," Carissa said, "even though I'm a bit nervous." "Oh, don't be. We're going to have all kinds of fun adventures together." Flora helped guide her to her feet. Out by the nurses' station, the doctor gave her follow-up instructions. Because she was now on disability until and if she was able to work, she was automatically insured. She was then given a list of doctors' names so she could pick one out and follow up with them. A nurse brought her a wheelchair and wheeled her into the elevator and then out to Flora's midsize car. After they were buckled in and pulling out of the parking lot, Flora said, "I started to think that you must be thinking, wow, it's been a long time since I've seen the outdoors, but then I remembered that to you, there would be hardly any gap in time." "That's true. I don't feel the gap in time at all. My body might, but my mind doesn't. For all I know, I was driving down this very street just a month ago." Flora smiled and patted the top of her leg. "Where do you live, anyway?" "On the edge of Columbus." "I never even thought to ask if you had an apartment or a house, but I'm guessing you have a house?" "Sure do. It's a three-bedroom, two-bath. It's become a bit much for just one person, to be honest, so I know I'll really appreciate your company." Carissa smiled and said, "Well, you're doing me a hell of a lot more of a favor than I could ever do for you." Flora laughed and said, "Would you like to go out for breakfast first, or would you prefer to eat at home?" Carissa noted the way she referred to it as being her home as well. It made her feel more welcome, not that she felt the slightest bit unwelcome. "Surprise me," she said. "No matter where we eat, it's got to be better than that damn hospital food." Flora laughed heartily at that one. "I can see jail food being that bland, but come on. A hospital? It's almost like the patients are being punished for being ill or injured." That time, they both laughed. Not long afterward, Flora pulled into the driveway of a tan single-story house with stucco siding. The front yard was small but not exactly tiny. The landscaping was simple. Pink oleander hedges hugged the walls of the house, and a large banana palm tree sat in the middle of the white graveled yard. The place almost had a tropical feel to it. Bougainvillea shrubs served as property line dividers. "Wow, this is nice. Love your choice of plants and trees." "Why, thank you, ma'am." "It gives the place a bit of a tropical air." "I like it. I know a lot of people like grass, but this way there's nothing to have to mow." "I'd take gravel over grass any day. I can see it if you have kids outdoors playing or something like that, but gravel is a great way to go." Flora parked the car in the garage, which she opened with a clicker, and then gently guided her into the house. The inside had a classic-modern feel. It basically looked like your average home and was very clean, neat, and tidy without much clutter. The furniture looked comfortable but not old and worn. The home was spacious but not monstrously huge. She liked how it wasn't your typical square or rectangle but an irregular shape instead. "You have a beautiful home," she told Flora. Flora smiled and said, "Come on, I'll give you a quick tour, then we can let you rest up while I prepare something for us to eat." The basic footprint of the house was like two rectangles that were side by side but a bit offset. The kitchen and master bedroom were on one side, while the living room and the other two bedrooms were on the other side. The backyard was bigger than the front yard, and Carissa was impressed by the colorful gardens. "Flowers over there and vegetables over there," Flora said, pointing in different directions. "This is way nice," said Carissa, admiring the cozy outdoor furniture on the patio. "It is. I just don't get to use it as much as I'd like to, but hey, less than fifteen years until retirement now." "This will be your room," Flora said a few minutes later, stepping into the room ahead of Carissa and placing her bags on the dresser. "As you can see, it's right across from my room." Carissa surveyed the room. It was small but plenty sufficient for someone who didn't have much. "It's perfect. Nice and cozy." It was then that Flora began to open drawers in the closet to show her all the clothes she had gotten for her. "Oh, my God!" Carissa gasped in surprise. "Just oh, my God. You're amazing! You know you didn't have to do this." "Yes, I know, but I wanted to," Flora said, hugging her. Carissa returned the embrace with as much strength as she could. "Thank you so much for caring. I'd hug you harder if I had the strength to." She felt the nurse's body vibrate with laughter, and then Flora said, "Someday soon enough you can give me a big old bear hug." Carissa offered to help with breakfast, but Flora insisted she get some rest. "All you need to do is tell me what you like," said Flora. "I like pretty much anything." Carissa lay on the full-size bed listening to Flora make breakfast out in the kitchen. Soon, the smell of bacon, eggs, and toast wafted into the bedroom. She heard her stomach growl. She was hungrier than she realized. A short while later, she ate hungrily. The food was delicious. Maybe everything would turn out all right after all. Yeah, maybe. If you could believe that someone you barely knew could really be kind enough to open their home and their heart to you without some kind of catch.