Nothing happened and they cleared me to go home that Monday afternoon. Rehab was easy, just the old rubber band exercises and I was on my way home again with a new brace. The most exciting part, no pain, very little anyway. Roxy being very happy things were going well and drove me home in her car, an older Civic. Yup, the yard looked great and a brilliant idea cutting the bushes to railing level, took less time and looked better than at porch level. I guess Roxy and Kelly were getting along great.
The house is another story. My old well-worn couch is gone, replaced with a leather looking double recliner with fold out center table, not new but not old either. So is the dining room table or what I used for one, a small round wood table in its place with matching chairs. Kitchen updated with actual matching silverware, pots, pans and a few other things that I didn't have time to investigate. Nothing real elaborate either, some of it second hand store items I would say. New curtains on the windows even, flat screen TV with gaming console.
The bedroom is something else with her king size waterbed all warm and cozy. Not a fancy one, just a square frame with padded rails, no headboard or drawers and curtains to match the bed spread that looked like the most expensive item. The added dresser with mirror didn't match the bed all that well. She did have a bunch of clothes and shoes. She gathered stuff like me, college kids moving on with stuff they couldn't take with them and bought for cheap especially those with apartments. I didn't ask how she got it all moved here, I figured she had a way and definitely planned on staying permanently.
I could throw her out but for the life of me couldn't come up with a reason. She didn't throw anything away either, it was all in the now spic and span basement. I would have gone to take a look but didn't want to walk down the steps just yet.
I decided to sit in the swing, a good view now. Roxy joined me with a beer in hand for me. She had a glass of soda for herself and cuddled up next to me. I put my arm around her and gave her a kiss, one of the last memories I had. I thought it was a fixation that I was the first person that treated her the way she wanted. Pearl is smart and level headed and wondered how she was convinced. Roxy is going out on a limb that I wouldn't. She is showing me the love I never received from a woman before. How could I not love her in return?
I thought about our first hour together like it was yesterday, well, to me it nearly was. She was restrained but I never took advantage of her though it may seem that way, she actually directed what she wanted. I may have led the way in the charge of excitement but performed in the manner she desired. Our talk of the lifestyle she wanted was directed to what she desired even. I am still split on what she really wants but trusts me enough that I won't hurt her and fulfill her dreams.
Having my memories back helped in my thinking though I wasn't sure they were real. I may have been poor as dirt but never went hungry. I was a star with my intelligence, abilities and leadership on and off the field. Everything I dreamed about came crashing down in about one fateful and painful second. I became a miserable kid and young man because I had lost everything and could only remember how. I only knew I was poor and had a dream that was shattered in an instant.
I had miserable relationships afterward with women because I was selfish. I only had the memories of my mom taking care of dad and she was miserable. I never had a memory where I was loved except those words from Kate. Which got confusing when I did finally get back to school the last couple of months. More or less I was confused because I couldn't remember. Kate and Yo-Yo tried to help and explain but made it worse and they gave up and went their separate ways or already had, everybody did for the most part. Thinking back, I would have done the same exact thing probably, there is no help for the totally lost. Even with my intelligence, I had no relevant relationship to apply. The college courses, some I barely passed proved that point.
I only knew how to live poor and excelled in that. I bought the house cheap, fifteen year loan. The payment wasn't that much and I was making double to triple the payments because I hated owing people money. I only had something like ten normal payments left and the house was mine. Quite an accomplishment in nearly five years. Even the truck, my only other real possession was paid for. I paid nearly nothing because it had a blown engine and badly vandalized. I learned how to fix it on my own basically, took nearly a year. I was hoping to by a new one when the house is paid for, hard to get body parts from the junk yards now. Coat of many colors I thought laughing as I looked at it.
I still didn't know what happened that night. The last recollection I had was sitting on the couch after Pearl looked at my knee saying I should go to the hospital. Another blank spot, a week long this time but I guess I didn't really miss much. I replayed all of Friday in my head like it was yesterday completely. I stopped when we were at The Den. I knew why I had the flashback or whatever it was. I made that collar for Shauna, years ago. No wonder she seemed to know me, she did but I didn't remember her. When I carried Roxy from the truck, the momentary grasping thought. I had done that with Yo-Yo once because it was muddy out and she didn't want to ruin her new sneakers.
Pearl reminded me of Kate, hell, they could be identical twins. Kate was no more than a real close friend, I remember now. Yo-Yo was my girlfriend since I was in tenth grade. The confusion came in because of the last words I remember before I blanked out at the hospital, she loved me. Yo-Yo wasn't there because I was mad at her with good reason, actually both of them. Roxy reminded me of Yo-Yo, I wouldn't say twins but a very close resemblance.
I remembered where the concussion came from also. The previous game in the third quarter, I got blindsided. It felt like a numbing charge of electricity went through then cobwebs but I fell on the ball and treated for the wind being knocked out of me which it was. I sat out for the rest of the quarter but was fine after that, so I thought. Was I really fixed? I still had two months missing that I couldn't remember at least and many things were fuzzy after that for nearly a year or so. That part didn't change. Most of the last five years though, I had no one to blame but myself. Sure, I had an airtight alibi for the way I acted but it didn't hold water to me and I felt ashamed.
All I knew right this instant, a beautiful, kind, caring woman gave up everything for me because that is what she desires. Her hopes rest on that fact I can make her happy and that is all she wants. Like she said, I needed to understand my slave.
"Roxy, why do you want to be my slave?" I asked wondering why she wants to live that kind of life.
"Love." She answered pointedly.
"I understand that. I mean how did these desires of yours manifest themselves?" I asked narrowing the window for deeper understanding.
"My mom I guess Sir, she taught me to be strong but submissive to her man at the same time." Roxy answered not really wanting to divulge her past but knew she would have to if he asked.
"Were you treated this way as a kid?" I asked mortified.
