Chapter 11: Outside Again

Their two wheelchairs we parked under the same oak tree. This was now their fourth picnic lunch at this spot over a two-week span.

“Sam, in our first picnic on ‘High School Confidential,’ you were explaining to me how you spent your teen years cowering and crouching so those hot scary girls wouldn’t notice your hard-ons and yell at you. Or laugh at you. And how you felt your sex obsession was wrecking your life. Have I got it right?”

“Yeah. Look, I know I sounded whiny and ridiculous the other day. Teenagers are like that. I didn’t understand anything. I was so frustrated. And sad. I truly thought there was something so wrong with me. I felt trapped, and desolate. Unlovable.”

Sam’s happy relaxed mood from minutes ago had evaporated. He was literally downcast, looking toward his feet while remembering the depression of his younger years. The long sad days of his confinement since the accident brought back those old feelings.

Shari was watching him, anxiously. Depression had clawed at her too often, as well. She was full of empathy for her new friend. It stirred her into action.

With both arms, she grabbed hold of his head and shoulders, lifting her body from her seat. She stared into his wet pained eyes.

“Sam. Sam! SAM! Come back! You are NOT unlovable. Not now, not then. LILA loved you. She LOVED you. She loved YOU, SAM.”

“Lila loved you, damn it.”

It was stressful, pulling her body up so tightly in the air against him. Shari released him with an audible gasp. The cushion in her chair went whoosh as she settled back.

“Lila loved Sam. Don’t make me slap you.”

“Now tell me about that first girlfriend. What was she like?”

Still reminiscing, but not so sadly, he called back to his first college year.