Chapter 1
Wes
Whowould’vethoughtWesleyJames Ellison would be a grown-ass adult with a grown-ass job—and a good job, at that? I’ve never made so much money in my life, and I can’t think of one damn person who hasn’t rooted for me. I wouldn’t be here were it not for the support of my family and friends.
I’ve been at this job for a month, and my mind is still fucking blown.Nuclearblown. Like I’m having my cake,andI get to eat it, too.
Life wasn’t easy growing up in Cannon Beach with a disabled mother and a family that barely made ends meet. Yet, it was filled with love and support. It didn’t hurt that I also had my best friend Dennis, who always had my back and pushed me to be my best. Not everyone is that lucky.
After nearly six years of working my ass off in school and getting a doctorate, I finally have the job I’ve always wanted. Well, almost. I wanted to become an athletic trainer for the track and field team, since I used to run on the Ducks’ cross-countryteam. But being a physical therapist opens more doors for me, and I still get to help the athletes.
With a nearly empty coffee cup in my hand and my satchel draped across my chest, I raise my free hand in the air to the man heading in my direction. “Don! My man!”
“Bro! Mornin’,” he chuckles, slapping my palm as he keeps on walking. I look at him as he turns around to face me, now walking backward. “Grabbin’ some coffee at that new place down the street. You know the one, Juniper Java. Want somethin’?”
I hold up my cold cup of coffee. “Who would say no to more caffeine? Yeah, grab me something bold, just like my personality.”
He shakes his head and rolls his eyes. “Jesus, your jokes suck, man.”
I wink at him. “I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you very much!”
“Sure,” he scoffs. “Anyway, want something in it?”
“A touch of cream and two Stevia, please. Thanks.”
“You got it.”
“Need some cash?”
“You can get me next time.”
“Deal.”
Don Stevens is a physical therapy tech and a former linebacker from right here at the University of Oregon.Go Ducks! He’s currently getting his doctorate in physical therapy, but he helps out until he graduates.
I chug back the last bit of my coffee, wince at the cold, stale taste, and toss the paper cup into the garbage in the hall before walking into the physical therapy facility.
We share the space with the sports medicine department, which is all part of theUniversity Health Services.
When I reach my workstation, I remove my bag and hoodie, then clip the work badge onto the collar of my grass-green polo with the yellow University of Oregon logo. Then, I sit at the computer and pull up my schedule for the day.
With school and football just starting, I haven’t been too busy yet, but I have a girl coming in for a herniated disc in her neck, and a drummer in a college band with tennis elbow.
While typing out my therapy plan for the student with the herniated disc, my phone rings to the specific ringtone I gave my mother.
I swipe it open and answer. “Hey, Mom! You okay?”
“H-h-hi, h-h-honey. I-it’s fine. J-just want t-to tell… you th-that… I’m th-thinking of… you. M-miss you.”
“I miss you, too, Mamasita.” She giggles at the nickname, which I’ve been calling her since my early teens. She loved it, so I kept saying it. It helps that she’s five feet nothing, so she’s my little mama. “I’ll be by to visit for Halloween weekend. How’s work?”
Mom’s been working at the local grocery store as a cashier since before I was born. It’s the only job that has the patience for her. She’s very intelligent. I got my brains from her after all, but she fell off a ladder when she was younger, landing on her head, which left her brain damaged. She’s struggled to speak ever since.
The damage also affects her mood, so she sometimes flies off the handle unexpectedly. Much of that stems from her struggles with communication. It’s never bothered me, since it’s all I’ve ever known. She’s always just been ‘Mom’ to me.
“G-g-good…”
“Are Grandma and Granddad okay?”
