The Woman Behind the Glass Wall

by DB Jones

  “I will. Thank you for coming by.”

  He smiled and closed the door.

  Sydney wheeled her chair over to the French doors. “World, I’m coming for you.”

  Jacob tried composing himself as he walked back to the car, but he had a strong impulse to jump up in the air and scream, “She’s going to do it.”

  Teddy and Anna strolled along the pathway around the lake stopping at the different food trucks studying their menus.

  After passing several trucks and stands, Teddy turned toward her. “See anything that you want to try?”

  Anna held her hand to her chin and rubbed it. “No, not really. Are you in a hurry?”

  He shook his head. “Not at all. I’m just getting a little hungry.”

  “Well, let’s grab some fruit to hold us over. There are so many options. I want to check them all before deciding. Is that okay with you?”

  Teddy cocked his head. “Whatever you want.”

  They continued around the lake near the gazebo when Anna suddenly stopped and was staring.

  Teddy turned his head in the direction she was staring. “What is it? Do you know that couple?”

  She grabbed his arm and leaned up and whispered. “That’s the couple that your sister calls, Heather and Luke.” She dragged Teddy toward the gazebo.

  “Huh? What are you talking about?”

  Anna stopped again and looked up at Teddy. “Syd has given some of the regular park visitors names. I know it’s strange. I think she considers them her friends. Let’s go over there and see if we can find out what their real names are.”

  Teddy resisted her pull. “You’re not going to ask them, are you?”

  “No. But if we stand close to the railing, maybe we can hear something.”

  “Anna, I don’t like this idea. This just will encourage Syd’s illusions, and it’s not healthy.”

  “Ah, humor me. I promise not to embarrass you.”

  “Okay.”

  Anna wrapped her arm through Teddy’s and pretended she was admiring the lake. “Did you see those turtles?”

  Teddy furrowed his brow. “No.”

  She jerked at his arm. “Let’s get closer and see if we can see them better,” she said, slightly raising her voice as they walked up behind the couple.

  Anna pretended to watch the turtles, but her attention was clearly on the couple sitting behind her.

  Suddenly, the good-looking man, Sydney called Luke spoke.

  Anna pinched Teddy on the arm, and he let out a holler. “Ouch. What was that for?”

  The young couple turned, smiled and then left.

  Anna watched as the couple walked out of sight. “I can’t believe it. We know their names. I can’t wait to tell Sydney.”

  “Why? Let her live in her imaginary world until she decides to come out. If she wants to know who all these people are so badly, it might encourage her to follow up on what Doctor Thornhill wants her to do.”

  “Come on; don’t be cruel. I see no harm in telling her. After all, you told her about Mrs. Farmer, who Sydney has been calling Mrs. Foster. What’s the difference?”

  Teddy tossed his hands in the air. “Okay, you’re right. Go ahead and tell her. Now, can we eat something?”

  Anna smiled at him. “Thank you. Yes, let’s eat. What are you getting?”

  Teddy rubbed his stomach. “Anything that will fill this screaming hole in my belly. I’m starving.”

  Anna laughed. “Good grief, Teddy. You’re not dying. Come on. Should we get some Thai food for Syd?”

  “Since when does she like Thai food?”

  “I don’t know that she does. She’s never eaten any.”

  Teddy burst out laughing. “You’re a strange one, Anna.”

  She grabbed his arm again, and they continued toward the food trucks. However, Anna couldn’t stop thinking about how excited Sydney was going to be to finally know the real names of her Heather and Luke.

  They stopped in front of the Italian truck, and Teddy ordered Stromboli. Anna rubbed her chin again. “I think Syd would rather have that, and so would I.”

  Teddy grinned and ordered two more Stromboli, then walked across the street toward home.

  Anna opened the door to find Sydney sitting in front of the opened French doors leading to the balcony. “I don’t believe this.” she hollered.

  “I was just getting some fresh air. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”

  “Uh, no. But I can’t remember you ever opening those doors. What’s going on?”

  Teddy walked over to the wheelchair and handed Sydney the bag. “We got you a Stromboli, loaded with cheese.”

  “Thank you, but I’m not hungry right now. I’ll eat it later. How was the festival?”

  Teddy turned to Anna and raised one eyebrow. “I’ll let Anna tell you.”

  Anna stood beside the wheelchair with her arms crossed over her chest. “I want to know what’s up with you, first.”

  Sydney turned around and waited for Teddy to return to the room. “Well, I had a visitor.”

  Teddy jerked his head back. “A visitor; who?”

  “Doctor Thornhill.”

  Anna’s demeanor quickly changed. She sat down on the ottoman as Teddy pulled a chair up next to her. “And?”

  Sydney exhaled a deep breath of air and smiled. “I’m going to do it.”

  Anna leaned in closer. “Do it?”

  Teddy grabbed Sydney’s hands. “You’re going to take the tests?”

  She smiled up at her brother. “I am; but only if you’ll stay with me until we have some answers. I’m nervous. If things don’t come out positively, I’m going to need you both with me.”

  Teddy threw his arms around her neck. “I’ll be here for as long as you want. Hell, I’ll move in.”

  Sydney laughed. “That’s not necessary. Don’t get me wrong. I love having you around, just not all the time.”

  Anna burst into tears. “I just know this time it’s what you’ve hoped for. I can feel it in my soul.”

  “Anna, I hope you’re right. I have to admit that this is the closest I’ve come to believing that I could walk again. I’m a bit anxious and don’t want to throw myself into a false sense of optimism, but I do feel good. Now, how was the festival?”

  Anna looked over at Teddy, gritted her teeth, and widened her eyes.

  “Anna, what?” Sydney snapped.

  “Guess who we ran into today?”

  Teddy laughed. “I’d hardly say we ran into them. It was more like stalking them.”

  “Who?”

  Anna bit the inside of her cheek then slowly spoke. “Your Heather and Luke.”

  Sydney’s jaw dropped, and her eyes opened wide. “Oh, my word. You saw them up close?”

  Teddy interjected. “Up close and personal. Anna nearly had us sitting next to them at the gazebo.”

  “I did not. I just wanted to get close enough to see the turtles. I can’t help it if we overheard their conversation.”

  Sydney slapped her hand over her mouth. “You didn’t?”

  “Oh, yes, she did. Anna nearly pushed me over the railing so we could be as close as possible.”

  Sydney leaned in closer to Anna. “Well? What did you hear?”

  “You and Anna are terrible; spying on that poor unsuspecting couple.”

  “Oh, be quiet, Teddy. Anna, what did you hear?”

  “Are you ready to find out their real names?”

  Sydney smacked Anna on the knee. “Tell me now you wicked woman.”

  Anna grinned. “We weren’t there five minutes when that good-looking man spoke.”

  “Anna, just out with the conversation. I don’t need any more suspense.”

  “Okay. The guy said, ‘Maddy, I think we need to get you back home. Remember what the doctor said.’ Then she replied to his comment. ‘Josh, don’t hover. I’m fine.’

  “Maddy and Josh? Yeah, they could be a Maddy and a Josh.”

  “Syd, they are Maddy and Josh, not Heathe
r and Luke.”

  “I know. It’s just going to take awhile for me to get used to their new names.”

  Anna shook her head and looked at Teddy.

  Teddy laughed. “I told you she’d want to keep her illusions.”

  Sydney turned to Teddy. “Brother, you’re a jerk. They have never been my imaginations. They are real. I just didn’t know who they were, but now I do. Give me a minute to adjust.”

  Teddy raised his arms in the air. “I can’t figure you ladies out.”

  Anna smiled and winked at Sydney.

  Teddy turned back to Sydney. “When are you going to have the tests?”

  “I gave the doctor the okay to set up the appointment. But I wanted to discuss this with you two before I do it. What do you think?”

  “Is this a trick question? Of course, you should. The sooner you do, the less you’ll agonize over it. Call the man and tell him you’re ready to schedule it,” Teddy barked.

  “I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m going to commit to this.”

  “But you are, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Then no sense waiting. Make the dang call.”

  Sydney blew out the air she was holding in her cheeks. “Teddy, would you get my cell phone?”

  Anna grabbed Sydney’s hand. “You can do this.”

  Sydney took the cell phone and stared at it for a moment, gulped in another breath of air and clicked on Jacob’s number.

  Jacob opened the front door. “Hey, anyone here?”

  There was no answer. He was eager to share the news about his patient with his dad. “I thought Dad would be back by now. I forgot about his meeting with Tyler.” Jacob popped open a cold beer and strolled out on the patio. “I’m going to miss sitting out here, but Dad will get more enjoyment out here than I have time for.”

  His cell phone rang.

  “Doctor Thornhill.”

  “Doctor, this is Sydney Parker.”

  “Yes, Sydney. Do have a question about the tests?”

  “Not really.”

  “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”

  “That’s what I’m calling you about.”

  Jacob’s heart sank to his stomach. “What is it, Sydney?”

  “I’d like to schedule those tests as soon as possible.”

  Jacob fell into the wicker chair on the patio. He was silent.

  “Doctor Thornhill, did you hear me?”

  “I’m sorry. Yes, I did. I’ll have my nurse set them up and give you a call as soon as she can arrange it. Sydney, thank you.”

  “No, Doctor; thank you.”

  She hung up and dropped her head into her hands. “Oh, my God, I did it.”

  Anna jumped up, grabbed Teddy and kissed him. “She did it.”

  Teddy couldn’t speak. He looked at Sydney, and back at Anna. Sydney laughed. “I think Anna’s more excited than I am.”

  “Bull, if you could get out of that chair right now, you’d be jumping around too,” Anna blurted out. “I believe it’s going to happen.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Sydney smiled.

  Anna buzzed around the kitchen. “This calls for a celebration.” She put the Strombolis on plates and pulled out three iced glasses from the freezer, poured the cold Lager beers into the glasses then handed them to Teddy and Sydney. She held her glass up and clanked it with theirs. “Here’s to the future.”

  Teddy smiled at his sister, and she smiled back at him. “To the future.”

  “To the future,” she whispered. “To the future.”

  After inhaling her meal and another beer, Sydney excused herself, went to her bedroom and closed the door. She sat in the middle of the room for a moment contemplating the day’s events, and what it might mean. “I want to believe I’ll walk again, but I’m afraid to hope. What if this falls apart too? I don’t think I could go on. I do not want to spend the rest of my days behind this glass wall watching the rest of the world enjoying life while I’m imprisoned in mine. I want to walk around the lake; I want to stop and feed the cats with Mrs. Farmer; I want to wave and say hello to Maddy and Josh, and who knows, to run the pathway like Trent, or whatever his name is.”

  CHAPTER 7

  Sydney awoke to the sounds of birds chirping, and the aroma of fresh brewing coffee. She rolled over squinted at the clock on the nightstand. It was 6:30 a.m.

  She reached for her trapeze to lift herself into her wheelchair when she heard a faint knock on her bedroom door. “Come on in, Anna.”

  “It’s not Anna; it’s me.”

  “Teddy, what are you doing up this early? Come on in.”

  “Have you forgotten what today is?”

  “Of course not,” she grunted as she adjusted herself in the wheelchair.

  “Anna and I are on the balcony having coffee. It’s a beautiful morning, and we thought you’d like to get a taste of your future.”

  “I haven’t even gone to the bathroom yet. Let me wash my face and take care of a few things first.”

  “Are you saying you’ll join us?”

  “I’m saying you need to get out of here so I can get cleaned up.”

  Teddy raised his brow, grinned and closed the door. Anna was waiting for him. “Well, what did she say?”

  “She told me to get out of her room so she could get ready.”

  “Was that a yes?”

  Teddy took another sip of his coffee. “Well, it wasn’t a no.”

  “Teddy, I’ve been praying every day that she’ll have good news with these tests, but there is some fear that is keeping her from going outside, and I can’t reach her. What good will walking again do if she still won’t leave this place?”

  “Have you ever suggested hypnotism to her?”

  “No. I can only imagine her response to that.”

  “I have used it on occasion.”

  “You. For what?”

  “Nothing I’m ready to talk about, but let’s just say it helped me and I think it could help Syd. It’s worth asking her, don’t you think?”

  “I’m going to let you approach that subject. If I say something, she’ll just laugh at me.”

  “Laugh at you for what?” Sydney asked as she approached the opened French doors.

  Teddy stood up and walked into the living room. “You ready to give this a try?”

  Sydney gripped her hands together and looked up at her brother. “I’m not sure about this. Don’t let go of my chair and if I can’t go any further, I want you to turn me around immediately. Promise?”

  “I promise. Ready?”

  Sydney closed her eyes for a moment, bit down hard on her the corner of her lip then grabbed her arm rests. “Okay.”

  Teddy gently inched the wheelchair closer to the doorway. Anna set her coffee on the table and stood with her hands clasped together. “You’ve got this Syd; I know you do.”

  The chair inched over the threshold and Teddy stopped. “It’s up to you, Syd.”

  She tilted her head back to face him. “Keep going.”

  The wheels touched the balcony patio, and Sydney gasped. “Oh, dear Lord.”

  Teddy stopped again. “Are you all right?”

  Anna watched with tears streaming down her face as Teddy rolled the wheelchair closer to the table. When the chair was within reach, Sydney grabbed the edge of the table and pulled herself up to it, dropped her head in her hands and wept.

  Teddy put his arms around her shoulders. “You did it, and you’re okay.”

  Sydney slowly lifted her head. Tears stained her face, but she was smiling. “I did, didn’t I?”

  Anna threw her arms around Syd. “I knew you could.”

  Sydney looked up at Anna. “Then why are you crying?”

  “I’m happy. How do you feel?”

  “Nervous and afraid to move. May I have some coffee?”

  Teddy turned to pull her a cup closer, but she blurted out. “No, don’t leave me here.”

  He quickly grabbed the chair. Ann
a stood up and looked at Teddy. “I’ll get the coffee for her.”

  Anna picked up a mug and handed it to Sydney, but Sydney wouldn’t let go of the table. “You have to let go of the table if you’re going to drink this,” Anna said as she held the cup in front of her friend.

  Sydney slowly released the table with one hand and reached for the cup. “Thank you.” Teddy stayed next to the wheelchair. She patted his hand. “You can sit down now, Teddy. I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m positive. This is a big step for me, but with both of you here to support me, I know I can do this.”

  Teddy waited until Sydney let go of the table with both hands, and her body began to relax. He leaned into the table. “Sis, I know you won’t believe this, but I have had fears too. I finally took the advice of a close and dear friend and went to a reputable hypnotist, a psychologist and was able to get the help I needed. When you finish with all this with Doctor Thornhill, would you consider going with me for a consultation?”

  “What for?”

  He reached across the table and took her hands. “Some fear is keeping you from coming outside. Wouldn’t you like to know what it is?”

  “And you think a hypnotist can find out,” she snickered.

  Anna interjected. “If your brother can do it, surely you can.”

  “You two are ganging up on me.”

  Teddy looked into his sister’s eyes with a solemn gaze. “I would never gang up on you with anyone. I only wish you to find peace and happiness. What do you have to lose? It did help me. If you’re willing to give it a try, it might help you too.”

  A tear escaped from the corner of her eye. “Don’t you think I wish I weren't afraid? But I’m not sure I could trust anyone to hypnotize me.”

  Teddy smiled. “I didn’t think I could either. Just meet with this guy. If you’re uncomfortable in any way, I’ll wheel you right out of there and never say another word.

  “Let me think about it. All I can think about today are these tests. I’m so nervous and anxious. Before I can tackle anything else, I want to see what Doctor Thornhill finds out, okay?”