I received a free ambulance ride to my parents’ house and a wheelchair to use for a couple of days.

I asked that they not make a fuss, but it seemed like no one listened to me anymore. All my old friends and family were there. Everyone told me how proud they were. I thanked them, but I was glad when they left. Mom told them she would keep them updated.

I ate more for dinner than I had in weeks. By seven o'clock, I struggled to stay awake.

A bath—no way could I stand in the shower—and a shave sitting in the tub brought me a little relief. But I needed sleep, and lots of it. Two pain pills and I was out like a light, sleeping in my old bedroom.

Even though the room was dark, I knew it had to be at least midday when I opened my eyes. My body had been waking me up naturally at five for too long. This morning, I knew something was different. I felt numb and a little fuzzy in the head as I tried to sit up and get out of bed.

This will not be fun, I thought.

I looked at my two wrapped-up stumps. I howled when I tried to put my weight down on one foot before climbing back onto the bed. The pain was back with a vengeance.

Using a crutch, I slid my wheelchair over to the side of the bed and hopped in. Going to the bathroom was not easy. I moved myself onto the toilet, back into the wheelchair, and brushed my teeth without soaking myself or the entire floor.

I threw on an old sweatshirt and wheeled myself out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. Everyone sat around the kitchen table, quietly drinking coffee. They had been waiting for me to wake up.

When I asked if there was any coffee left, the kitchen sprang to life.

“Before you ask, yes, I slept well," I said. "I am still lightheaded. And no, I can’t walk. Besides that, I’m doing pretty well.”

“Well, I’m glad you're up. Your cell phone has been ringing nonstop. Finally, I had to turn it off. I was afraid it would wake you,” my dad told me. He slipped a cup of coffee under my nose.

“Nothing could have woken me last night after two of those pills. The only reason I’m up now is that my bladder decided I had slept enough.”

“So, Craig, tell me. What are your plans for today?” my brother asked. “I thought we might go out and jog a few laps around the football field just to stay active. I wouldn’t want you to get lazy on me.”

I smirked at him. “Besides buying plane tickets for tomorrow, I want to do nothing today. My only problem will be moving around for a couple of weeks. There is no way I can walk, and I still have to work for a living. I guess I'll figure out something.”

“It seems you don’t have to worry about that, at least for now. Someone volunteered to be your wet nurse,” Gary said. “Mom wanted to come down and do it, but we felt that her dragging your ass on and off the toilet and into the bath might be a little embarrassing for her,” my brother said, trying not to laugh.

“For her? How about for me?”

“You haven’t got anything she hasn’t seen before,” he replied. “But Mom was overruled.”

That statement surprised even me. “Who the hell could overrule Mom? Dad hasn’t even said crap to her in the last ten years.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dad give me that look that said I needed to be careful.

A voice from behind Brenda spoke up, “I did.”

Monica stepped forward. “They figured since I've seen it all before and already live in Florida, I was the logical choice.”

“This little one showed up on our doorstep two days ago and has been waiting for your sorry ass,” Brenda told me. “I told her you weren’t worth her time. Although she agreed with me, she talked us into letting her stay.”

My eyes lit up, and my heart started pumping again when Monica walked up and gave me a soft kiss.

“I told you guys this would be just what he needed,” a smiling Brenda told my parents. “Maybe we should let them catch up. Craig’s probably still tired anyway.”

She pushed everyone out of the kitchen, leaving Monica and I alone.

“I don’t understand,” I said. 

“Me either. Dan was the one who told us about your little plan when he went asking for donations. We all thought it was one of your stupid pranks. But when we checked it out, we realized you were really trying to do this.”

“Did do it,” I corrected her.

“All right, did it. When you gave that first and then the second interview, we all felt terrible for what we said and put you through, even though you deserved it. Craig, no one, and I mean no one, thought you would make it besides Fran and Jackie. Everyone at the Harley dealership lost and donated their bets to you.

"I flew out here after your last interview. I tracked down your parents and met your brother and sister-in-law. Gary’s really proud of what you did for him. He wanted to meet you at the Minnesota border, along with everyone else, but your dad told everyone to back off and let you do this on your own. I was wrong. It seems even you can grow up if you put your mind to it.”

I didn’t hear everything she said. I was too busy staring at her. She was really here. I wasn’t dreaming it.