"Hey, watch where you're going!" someone cried.
Nick picked himself off the floor quickly put his hat back on his head hoping nobody saw what had happened and notice him. "I'm really sorry, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"
The girl seemed surprise for a second at who he was then her expression changed. "I'm fine." said the girl bitterly, sensing that he had sympathy for her, and that was the last thing that she needed. She quickly turned the other direction and left.
"Are you okay Nick?" said AJ, laughing a little. "You're so careless sometimes."
"I know," said Nick, a little distantly. "I hope she's okay."
"I'm sure she's fine. Come on let's go. The others are waiting for us at Bri's place." AJ started to leave, but when he realized that Nick wasn't behind him, he turned around and saw Nick staring into the direction of the girl. "You like her don't you?" asked AJ slyly.
"No, of course not. I don't even know her. It's just that, she-- I feel so bad."
AJ sighed. "It's okay Nick, now come on, let's go. She'll be fine." He took hold of Nick's arm and dragged him in the opposite direction.
When they stepped out of the mall Nick saw the girl again.
"AJ, wait a second. I've got to go say I'm sorry."
"Nick, forget about it, I'm sure all she wants is to be left--" Before he could finish his sentence, Nick had taken off after the girl. AJ put his hands in his pockets and followed slowly behind.
Nick slowly approached the girl who seemed to be waiting for someone.
"Excuse me?" he said.
The girl looked up. "What do you want?" she said looking away.
"I just wanted to apologize, that's all. I'm sorry about that. I should've been watching where I was going."
The girl looked up. "Why are you apologizing to me again?"
Nick brushed his hair aside, breathed in and said. "I--I feel bad."
"But you wouldn't feel bad if I wasn't like this would you? Would you?"
Nick opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out.
"Look, I don't need your pity. I'm fine on my own. Just because I'm in a wheelchair doesn't mean I need charity, from you or anyone else. So what? I can't walk. That's just too bad for me, but I don't need you to keep apologizing to me. I just feel more of an invalid. So if you don't mind, please leave me alone." The girl looked away, anger written all over her face.
Nick wanted to say something, but he knew she probably wouldn't listen to him. Now he felt like a jerk. That wasn't his intention at all. Was it? Now he wasn't sure, but what he was sure of he felt worse than he did before. He turned around and walked towards AJ. AJ put an arm around his friend to console him and walked towards his car.
"I told ya', she just wants to be left alone."
Nick nodded and kept his head down.
"Keiko? What's wrong? Are you okay?" asked Keiko's mother in Japanese.
"I'm fine, Ma." She carefully put her seatbelt on and sat still.
"Don't lie to me. What happened?" Keiko's mother eyed her in suspicion.
She sighed. "Nothing, just some idiot fell over me today. He wasn't watching where he was going, but, I felt like I was in his way. The stupid wheelchair," she cursed under her breath.
"Honey, you know you'll be okay soon."
"I know, but why does it have to take so long."
"Hey, be grateful that you'll be able to walk soon."
"I know, and I'm completely grateful, but Ma, it's been two years. A couple more months seems like it's never going to get here."
"Don't worry, hon. The time will come. That's what you have to look forward to. Sure your legs aren't going to heal completely, but it's better than being in that wheelchair."
Keiko nodded her head. She didn't talk for the rest of the trip home. She opened the door and her mother rushed to her side. Keiko sighed. She inched herself to the edge of the seat. Her legs slowly touched the ground, and she fell into her mother. She steadied herself and took very small steps towards the house, wincing at the pain at the same time.