Chapter 7
ADEN
“I will just adjust this to the right height for you and then you’re all set to go,” Dr. Harley says as he adjusts the keyboard to swivel from the side of my bed to over my lap.
“To turn it on and off, just press this little green button here on the top left corner of the keyboard. Just start typing whatever you would like to say just as you would type on a computer. Your words will show up on the screen here so you can see what you have typed. When you are done, just press enter and the machine will do the talking for you. Go ahead and try it out.” He gestures to the machine.
“Hello, my name is Aden,” I type and press enter.
“Hello, my name is Aden,” the computer says in a monotone voice.
“Perfect!” Dr. Harley exclaims. “Don’t you just love technology? This is just a temporary means to communicate at the moment. We just need to review the MRI scans we took of your left frontal lobe and determine if we can perform any surgery to help get your speech back. It is experimental, but we have successfully completed this procedure several times in our labs. We just have to examine your brain and adjust the procedure accordingly. ”
“How long do you think that will take?” I type.
“It may take a few months. We want to make sure that we assess everything and know for certain that we know exactly every move we are making,” he explains.
“What if it doesn’t work?” the computer says after I press enter.
“That is why we want to take our time examining and evaluating your brain so we can go into this surgery with full confidence that you will come out of it speaking again,” he says.
“Hey, can I come in?” Ethan asks as he pokes his head around the corner of the room.
“Yes, I am done here for now,” Dr. Harley says as he puts his pen into his shirt pocket. “Aden is all set to communicate thanks to Barb 2000 here.” He gives the computer a pat.
“Fancy,” Ethan says, letting out a small snicker. “Step aside Riley because Aden has a new girl in his life, Barb.”
“That’s enough Ethan,” I type.
“Wow, that’s so weird bro,” Ethan says. “That will take some getting used to for sure.”
“Well I am off and running,” Dr. Harley says as he leaves the room. “If you have any problems, just let me know. If you press that red button it will notify me and I will be here as soon as possible.”
“So how long before you can speak?” Ethan asks.
“A few months at the least,” I type.
“So I am guessing you never got to ask Riley yet,” Ethan says, looking at me sympathetically.
“No, not yet. It can wait a few months I guess. I want her to be able to hear me ask with my own words and not this stupid machine. That time can’t come soon enough. This accident just shows how fast things can change,” I type.
The night the accident happened, I was taking Riley to Perch, a fancy rooftop restaurant in downtown L.A. I had Sam help me pick out a nice dress for Riley that would be suitable for the occasion. I also had her help choose a tux for me. I had the perfect night planned. We would have a decadent dinner, along with champagne and dessert. I had a section of the restaurant reserved where I had a candle lit path leading to a pedestal in the middle that held a little red box containing a ring. I planned on getting down on one knee and asking her to be my wife that night.
“Don’t tell anybody this, it’s between us brothers,” I type, “I’m scared. What if this surgery doesn’t work out and I am stuck speaking through a computer for the rest of my life? What if Riley will get sick of hearing a robot voice every day and decide that she can’t be with me anymore?” I say through the emotionless computer.
“Aden, don’t be. The doctors are sure they can do this and I know Riley would never leave you for such a dumb reason. Sam and I have talked to her and you are the only thing on her mind right now. She loves you and if she can’t handle such a petty thing as a computer talking for you, then she doesn’t deserve you. There are way worse things that could have happened to you and she knows that. She is grateful that you are even alive right now,” Ethan says sternly.
“Thanks,” I say to him through the machine. His words take away some of the fear I have, but there is still a part of me that is scared to death of what can happen.
“Hey, I smuggled in some BBQ chips for you. I figured you might want something other than hospital food.” Ethan tosses me the bag.
“Sweet!” I open up the bag and pop one in my mouth. “So good!” I type as I shut my eyes and enjoy the flavor and crunch of the chip. “How are things with you and Sam?” I ask as I take out another chip from the bag.
“I have moved into the girls place since Riley hasn’t been there. Sam wanted some company,” Ethan said.
I give Ethan a shocked look on my face. “Really? How is that working out for you?” I type.
“We are working out the kinks. So far it’s been great. I just think of it as practice for the future,” he says. “Sam and I have been talking and we think that maybe after our schooling, we will look at finding a place together. Maybe even sooner if you and Riles get hitched.”
“Good for you two,” I type. “Do you think you would ever ask Sam to marry you? Getting a place together is a big step, but don’t you want to maybe have a wedding first? I know you are a traditional guy like me.”
“That is one thing that has been running through my mind ever since you told me about proposing to Riley. Living together right now just feels right and I would like to get married eventually,” Ethan says. “With the whole accident and you going to propose to Riley, I think I will wait a little bit longer. I want this time to be about you two. I don’t want to steal your guys’ thunder. Plus, if both Riley and Sam were brides at the same time,” Ethan stops to look up at an imaginary thought bubble, “As much as they are good friends, I don’t think that it would end well. Have you seen the movie Bride Wars?”
I let out a laugh. Ethan’s right, I think we would have a couple of bridezilla’s to deal with if both were engaged at the same time. “You know, you don’t have to purpose the same time as me?”
“Which is why I am waiting,” Ethan says. “Speaking of wars, I downloaded a bunch of World of Warcraft extension packages for you,” Ethan says as he reaches behind him to his backpack to pull out my laptop.
“Thanks man,” I type.
“I figured it would get boring here for you since there is not much you can do in a hospital but sit and watch the news all day,” Ethan says, “Plus I miss playing with you. Playing a solo game just isn’t the same.”
“You got that right,” I type.