Nerve Damage: Chapter 1

In the Beginning, There Was Pain

Mondays were the same as every other day for Nate Givens. They began with pain and went downhill from there. It was the usual pain that woke him from a deep sleep, while the bright morning light streaming through the thin bedroom curtains told him that he was late for work…AGAIN!!

He sat up, shaking his head to try and will himself fully awake. Satisfied that the last remnants of peaceful sleep had been slain as effectively as St. George’s dragon, Nate reached for his phone on the bedside table, immediately noticing that the end of the charging cable was not in its port. “Shit.” He plugged in the cable, waiting for the Apple logo to appear onscreen, and then gritted his teeth for what was always the hardest part of his day.

Nate closed his eyes as he pulled back the garishly colored comforter - why do I let my mom shop for me? - and slid his legs across to the side of the bed. He sucked in his breath as pain shot up his right leg. The initial stabbing sensation was soon replaced by pins and needles around the livid scar on the shin, but not before producing a layer of sweat that oozed from every pore.

As the iPhone came to life, notifications began to ping loudly, the majority of which were from work. Nate blocked out the sound and reached for his cane, the crook of which rested on his headboard. Bracing himself, he rose to his feet, using the cane for leverage and trying his best to muffle the scream that threatened to tear free from deep within.

Tears filled his eyes, turning his view of the bedroom into one seen through a rainy windshield with broken wipers. Nate used the back of his left hand to wipe away the tears, cursing himself for allowing the pain to get the better of him. The constant berating changed nothing, though, which was something he should have learned from the years of torment bestowed upon him by a cruel, uncaring father. Thinking about that tyrant was no way to start the day. Best to get moving.

Nate shuffled across the room, savoring the feel of the thick carpet beneath his feet. He pulled back the drapes, whose orange and cream swirls matched the bedspread, and savored the view. The bright spring sunshine danced off the few remaining parked cars on the tree-lined street. Flowers in all the colors of the rainbow were blooming in bushes and planters, making his small part of the world look like something out of a Rockwell painting. For a moment, Nate forgot about his troubles, smiling as he soaked up the beauty Mother Nature put on display.

PING!! PING!!

The sound of the phone brought him back to the real world, and while the idea of calling out sick seemed appealing, Nate knew he wouldn’t do it. Instead, he moved slowly back to his bedside and picked up the iPhone, tapping on the notification for the newest message.

Dude, where are you?”

The average boss would probably not be as forgiving to an employee who was now running forty minutes late, but when the boss was your best friend, things tended to be a little less stressful. Nate typed in a quick response, letting Richard know, he was on his way, then he made his way to the ensuite bathroom.

Nate stood in front of the mirror, head bowed, knowing that his reflection would only make him feel worse. Ever since his childhood injury - you’re no son of mine - his body had seemed to weaken in so many other ways. If he were to look in the mirror now, he would see a gaunt face, hollow cheeks pockmarked by acne scars, thinning blond hair, and dark eyes that were too much like his father’s.

Grabbing his toothbrush, Nate quickly cleaned his teeth, which he followed with a quick floss and a mouthwash rinse. He quickly dressed, grabbed his cane, and headed downstairs, wondering once again why he had chosen a place with a second level. It was tough enough getting around on one good leg, so why make life tougher by going up and down stairs every day?

He grimaced at the sight greeting him as he stepped into his modern kitchen. A pizza box lay open, one feeble looking piece of pie remaining in the greasy package. Nate was not a clean freak by any stretch of the imagination, but he did like neatness and order. He snatched up the final piece of pizza and chewed the food that was now the consistency of cardboard. Choking it down, he closed up the box and placed it in the trash. Happy that the kitchen now looked a little more presentable, he snatched up his keys from the marble countertop and made for the door.

As Nate stepped outside, the warmth of the day fell upon him. Closing his eyes, he raised his face toward the sun, smiling as the rays fell upon his pale face. A warm breeze blew, rippling through his wispy hair like slender fingers in a gentle caress. Nate knew that this moment was going to be the best part of his day, so he stood on his front step and savored the moment before heading to his car.

With a loud groan, Nate eased himself into the driver’s seat, wincing as he moved his withered right leg inside. He hated driving, hated the pain he had to endure on every drive, but in a city as big and widespread as Atlanta, a car was a necessity rather than a luxury. He couldn’t imagine trying to navigate MARTA in his less than perfect state, so a little bit of pain was worth it. His office was no more than a twenty-minute drive and easy to manage.

Easing the car out of the driveway, Nate turned onto his street and once again admired just how pretty it was. Working in sales was not his dream job, but he was good at it and made more than enough to live a very comfortable lifestyle. The fact that he didn’t socialize or have extravagant tastes meant that his house and car were already paid off - you’ll never amount to a lick of goddam salt - and money was in the bank.

Atlanta traffic was never particularly smooth but given that he had missed the rush hour by oversleeping, Nate made it to the office in record time. He steered the vehicle into the underground parking lot, flashing his ID card to raise the gate, and maneuvered into his parking space. A quick glance at the dashboard clock told him that he was now over an hour late, but rather than rushing, he sat for a moment, breathing calmly and preparing himself for what was to come.

Nate glanced into the rearview mirror and saw his father’s eyes staring back at him. He closed them quickly, but the damage was already done, as his thoughts began to drift back to childhood, the memories immediately killing all the good feelings of the morning. Just like that, it felt like a miserable Monday.