Levi's POV...

Once Nate told me he'd be putting my back brace on me, I automatically assumed it would be some over sized, very uncomfortable contraption. On the contrary, it was surprisingly light and thin and wrapped around my torso like it was specifically pre-made for me. Not sure when they measured me, but with all the chaos over the last 2 days, I probably didn't notice a lot of things they were doing to me.

Nate then slipped some kind of soft material with handles under me that he called a sling, and attached me to a machine. Again, I find myself begin to panic as I watch this machine lift my mostly limp body up off the bed. I'm having panic attacks every time someone tries to move my body. I'm not afraid of being moved, well yes I am I guess, it's hard to describe what's making me so anxious. The dead weight of my torso and legs is what bothers me the most, that and not being able to catch myself if I fall. Who ever thought I'd be afraid of falling out of bed?

"I've got you man," Nate assures me. Luckily for me, Nate is obviously some kind of expert at this, and quickly gets me adjusted into a wheelchair before I hyperventilate.

The chair back is high and is tilted backwards to keep weight off my spine Nate tells me, as he lifts my legs and arms and places them on top of padded leg and arm rests. Nate lifting my limbs for me is the part I hate the most. My mind is trying to force my body to do one thing while someone else is actually making my arms and legs do something else. My nerves shake anytime I attempt to shift on my own, it's strange and irritating, and I don't like it at all.

"You ready?" Nate asks me as he pushes me out of my room. I'm calmer now that I'm secured into this chair. A strap across my chest and one across my lower legs applying just enough pressure that I feel stable, and I find it odd that a little tension against my extremities is comforting.

As Nate pushes my chair, I realize this is the first time I've seen anything other than my room. Well except for when I was wheeled into this place and didn't know what the fuck was going on.

I expected to see a plain white hallway with rooms on both sides like a hospital ward.  Surprisingly this place is not like that at all. It's very open with high ceilings and wood beams throughout, as if this place was meant for the country and not the city of Boston. What a great design for a place that people essentially will be living in for a year or more of their life.

Nate pushes me a little further down the hall and we pass by a large room with a bunch of mats on the floor, a set of parallel bars, a large padded table or bed, and some other exercise equipment. I scan the room a little more and find Charlotte. She has her hands on some guys hips. He looks like he's in his 40's maybe, braces are attached to both of his legs and he's using his arms to hold himself up with metal crutches. Charlotte must be guiding him or making sure he doesn't fall as they both walk slowly in sync across the room. I hope I'll be able to do that soon.

We get around the corner  and enter an oversized room with couches, recliners and a giant TV that takes up an entire wall, complete with surround sound. "Here is the lounge!" Nate exclaims.

Mark and Emma are in the far end of the room and abruptly stop whatever conversation they were having as soon as I enter. Mum rushes over to me, "Hi son, how are you doing?" She asks me while planting a kiss on my forehead. "Hey son," my dad nods to me. "Hey," is all I repeat and give them a smile. No one hugs me and I wonder If they're afraid to touch me or hurt me. My body's begging for a firm embrace which never happens.

Mark confidently strides over to me, "Alright? Mate!How was your night? Are they treating you well?" He asks me. "Yeah, yeah of course," I assure him. What else am I supposed to tell him? That I can't sleep at night, I feel like I'm in someone else's body, that I now have panic attacks. That I'll gladly accept a real hug from him if he offers one. He doesn't need to know that I'm terrified out of my mind.

"Lets get on with this tour then," Mark adds as he glances towards Nate.

Emma slowly walks over to me and I hold out my right hand to her, hoping she'll accept it.

Relief sweeps over me as Emma takes my hand in hers and we all head out of the room together.

Nate continues to lead us around the building, my mum pleased as we admire the pool and spa, a weight room, the expansive kitchen and eating area.

My thoughts are mostly focused on the nagging pain in my back until I realize that Emma is still here with me, walking by my side holding my hand.

"I love you," I look up and whisper to her.

She looks at me briefly and quickly whispers, "I love you too."

"How about you and I have lunch together in the courtyard and we can enjoy the views of the bay," I ask her softly.

She suddenly drops my hand, causing my wrist to hit the arm rest of my chair as it falls. She doesn't even notice how that action affects me because she's too busy looking towards my parents. When she turns back, it finally clicks. "Oh my God Levi, I'm so sorry, is your wrist ok?" She apologizes while positioning my arm back onto the arm rest. "Um...I..I would love to eat with you, but your mum really wants to help you with your lunch today...Maybe dinner?" She responds, keeping her eyes from meeting mine as we move down the hall. She's no longer holding my hand. As soon as we pass a restroom, she darts over and says, "I'll be right back."

Without a moment to process what just happened, Mark is walking next to me. "Hey mate, this place is fantastic! Looks like you'll have everything you need here to get you on your feet again," He cheerfully states. "I'm leaving tomorrow, I have a lot of things to take care of back home with the movie, but I'll fly back here Saturday ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure, do whatever you need to do, I've messed things up quite a bit I'm sure," I apologetically say to him. "Thanks for taking care of everything," I add.

"You ok I head out?" Mark asks me. "I have about 100 phone calls to make. I will see you in 5 days, but call if you need anything." He places a firm hand on my shoulder before saying his goodbyes to Nate and my parents.

What was that all about? Emma has disappeared into the restroom and Mark is taking off on me and didn't even wait to say bye to Emma. Thankfully, I've still got my parents here eagerly following Nate around, so I haven't scared them away yet, but I'm sure I will soon.

Frankly, I'd rather be left alone to sulk and this chair is really making my back ache. I'm about to ask to be brought back to my room when Charlotte pops out of the gym and into the hall in front of us.

My sour mood immediately taken back by the sight of Charlotte. Her long dirty-blonde hair is pulled back into a pony tail. She's wearing a tight fitting tank top, revealing her slender but toned arms. Her skin is shiny and small beads of sweat are gleaming from her. I wonder if she just finished exercising.

She swiftly answers my thoughts, "Hey everyone!" Her multi-color eyes are bright as she turns her attention towards me. "I told you I'd see you again before lunch," she smiles at me.

Emma finally reappears from the restroom to join us, staring at Charlotte just as perplexed as I am. Charlotte looks at everyone again and begins to explain herself, "I just fit in a quick workout, so I'm going to have Sarah bring your lunch out to the patio for you all to enjoy while I go take a shower. Levi, I will come find you after lunch so we can get going on afternoon therapy," she happily says to me before Nate whisks us around towards the direction of the patio.

"Are you feeling ok?" I ask Emma as I reach for her hand.

"I'm fine, let's go eat," she replies and tentatively slips her hand in mine.

Everyone's pretty quiet during lunch, except my mum of course who is trying to help me eat, and repeatedly asks for Nate's guidance to assure she's doing it right. I once enjoyed eating food but not anymore.

The patio wraps around half the building and overlooks the Boston Harbor. The view allows me a beautiful and peaceful distraction as I sit here in my wheelchair being fed like a baby.

After lunch everyone follows along back to my room and silently watches as Nate uses the machine to lift me from my chair and place me in bed. Nate removes my back brace and makes sure my body is positioned correctly in bed. I avoid making eye contact with anyone, mostly because I'm trying not to have a panic attack and also because I'm afraid to find out what their faces will tell me while they witness how dependent I've become.

When I'm all situated, my parents inform me that they will be back for dinner, then they walk out of the room with Nate.

Emma sits on the chair next to my bed. Now is my chance to talk with her. She's been acting strange towards me all day.