Revelations

Another grueling morning of physical therapy. Sandra's sweat seemed to pour out of her like a water faucet. She grips the cold metal tightly as she walks slowly on the foam black mat underneath her. She noticed it was getting easier every day she works at it. Her muscles ache from the workout regimen. Usually before her walks she does some light weight lifting using two five pound dumbbells'. Working out her arms will help her practice walking, allowing her to hold herself up easier and control the amount of weight she puts into each step.

"Wonderful! You've made great progress! You will be walking on Your Own in no time!" the man tosses his dreads over one muscular shoulder before grabbing a pair of aluminum stilt like objects. "Here take the forearm crutches, we're going to see how well you do with these and move from there. "

"Anything to get me out of this place" Sandra grabs onto the crutches slipping her arms into the contraption gripping tightly to the handles. With a determined gleam in her eye she moves forward little by little taking baby steps eventually crossing a good portion of the fitness room before attempting a turn. The trainer stands nearby ready to catch her if anything happens. She places one pole to the side she wants to turn and then moves her foot and just as she is about to move, the other her leg gives way under the pressure. Promptly the trainer steps up to aide Sandra's maneuver but is stopped by Sandra's thunderous voice "No! I need to do this on my own." frustrated with her progress she wills her muscles to cooperate ending her turn around successfully.

Clap clap clap "wow, you sure have gotten far In just a few weeks." a deep voice calls out from the doorway.

"Lulu!" Sandra excitedly calls back. She quickly ends her session with her trainer.

"You know I hate that nickname, Sandy" Lukus gives a throaty chuckle and gives her a gentle hug. His broad shoulders encompassing her entire body.

"I guess your not so small anymore, I remember back in high school, no one would have guessed that scrawny little boy would turn into Shrek." Lukus helps Sandra into her wheel-chair as she reminisces about the past. "It's good to see you again." she smiles brightly

"Yeah, I'm glad you're getting back on your feet, no pun intended." he says while gently pushing Sandra through the quiet halls.

"I heard you and sis have a baby now, how's that going?" she says in a playful tone.

"Oh he's a strong little fella, punched me square in the mouth the other day."

"I bet you deserved it too" she laughs picturing the baby giving him a good knock.

"Sure did, I took his nose and he got so mad he socked me right in the kisser." he motioned a fist to his face before giving a deep, hearty laugh that bellowed across the hall. Sandra's smile forms into a small laugh. She had become very close with Lukas ever since Suzanne began dating him in high-school. He had become her best friend without even realizing when it had happened.

"He's got your temper for sure" his eyebrows lifted with a smirk.

"Glad the boys got some resolve, unlike his mother." thinking about incident with Margret and the reporters. She felt a little irritation that Suzanne could never stand up to anyone.

"I know Suzanne doesn't have much in way of a backbone but she tries." giving a knowing glance.

"I know, I just can't understand how she could let mother get the press involved. And Del, poor Del must be out of her mind with what's happening." Sandra's thoughts lead back to Adelyn and how she must be handling this whole thing, still not willing to believe that their marriage is fake.

"So you do know her?" Lukas's question catching Sandra off guard.

"Don't tell me you're in on it too?" Sandra's shoulders slumped with exasperation.

"In on what? " Confusion filling his voice.

"This scheme to drive Del out of my life, I don't know why mother hates her so much. The crash? the coma? I don't remember any of it but it was all just an accident anyway; Besides I was driving how could it be her fault. " the last sentence slipped out of her mouth without intention. "I was driving..." her eyes look down in thought.

"Did you remember something? " Lukas still pushing her wheel chair gently along the corridor.

"No, not really." unable to consciously remember anything she says" I assume I was driving... anyways..." they move down the halls in silence for a moment.

"She lied to us..." he offers in as neutral a tone he could muster.

"Lied? About what? " Sandra's eyebrows shot up.

"Del told us that she was a friend of yours when Margret found her in your room. She forgot to mention that she was the driver who crashed into you." he offered.

"That's not possible, why would my wife lie about crashing into me? and why wouldn't she be in our car? Sandra going on the defense.

"Wait, When did THAT happen?" taken aback by the sudden use of the word wife.

"Seriously?? You were there! Why is it that I have to remind everyone about my wedding? Was it that boring that no one remembers it?" She raises her voice in irritation. "You were my best man for crying out loud!" she huffed "Ask Clark, he stood right behind you. He may be old but I'm sure he would remember."

"Sandy...." Lukas looks at her with sad eyes and says "Clarks been ...gone ...for years. He had a heart attack..." his baritone voice seemed even deeper.

"What? No, but I .. how could this be?" the blood rushes to her face her mouth hanging open as a tear falls down her cheek."

"Sandra, What year do you think it is?" Lukas says cautiously.

"2016 of course, why?" she replies confidently.

"Jeez" he sighs "because todays date is October 19th.... 2020" answering hesitantly.

"haha funny joke Lulu, you really had me going for a second" skeptically she scoffs.

"I'm not joking Sandra, this must be a side affect from the coma" his tone and face become serious.

She goes quiet for a moment then says "Can we go somewhere else? I'm tired of being in this hospital, more like a prison some days." changing the subject Sandra scans the area for an elevator. Maintaining her underlying disbelief, she dismisses Lukas's words.

"I think you will be released soon, the doctors say your in great health considering. Should be in the next few days, although you will have to continue physical therapy." his tone a bit lighter.

"Great, I'll finally be able to get this mop off my head. " she motions to the long brown hair flowing down her shoulders.

"looks good on ya, why do you want to cut it?" drawing out a gentle smile out.

"You know why Lukas. it just doesn't fit me to have long hair and it's a pain in the ass to get the knots out." as she says this she runs her fingers though the lengthy locks, her fingers promptly catching and tugging at each interval.

"So, tell me more about Del, how did you two meet?" his inquires curious and thoughtful.

Sandra smiles creasing her eyes "We officially met at a coffee house. Though I had seen her at the bar we never really spoke, actually it's quite embarrassing. Clark had lured me with a little competition into a bet that if I could get her number before him then he would stop meddling in my love life" she snorts "The sly old bastard won and you know what he did? He set me up on a date with her, one thing led to another, you know the rest." her face full of smiles as she spoke then she shrugged.

"I actually don't know the rest" his voice somber in tone.

She bites her lip seemingly deep in thought "What do you know about her?" her voice shakes slightly.

"I know that she's a good person, she came to visit you every day for weeks before volunteering here. We spent a lot of time with her, shared meals, stories, Christmas... " his tone conveying the care he has for Adelyn.

"If all this is true then how do I know her the way I do, how do I know that she has a brother, or loves the color blue or even that she often wakes up in the middle of the night in a sweat scared and vulnerable?" Sandra's eyes began to water her heart aching to be near Del again.

"I don't know sandy." they arrive at her room silent and in deep contemplation.

"Could you do me a favor? " Sandra looks at Lukas her eyebrows furrowed "Could you contact Del? I think it would help me a lot if I could just talk to her. "

"Your mothers pretty upset with her." he warns, relenting "I'll see what I can do."