I woke up to the same annoying beeping, that I had been waking up to for the past year, I groan and rolled over to turn it off, then laid in the silence of my room.

  I notice the birds singing outside, and the cool air of the spring morning drifting into my room. “Today is going to be a beautiful day”  I thought to myself, stretched then started my Saturday morning routine. I walked down the stairs and meet Tina at the table. 

She was nose deep in a trashy love novel, the ones she would only read when Bette was not around.  I snuck up behind her and gave her a light hug, one my body could mange. 

“Oh good morning,” she said surprised to see me awake. “What are you doing up so early?”  

  “I’m going to hang out with Alice today.” I said as I walked into the kitchen to grab some orange juice. I felt like I owed Alice an explanation for what happen, and some loving friend time. I felt a vibration in my pocket and reached to grab my cell phone. 

“Hey Al, yeah I’l be there in a sec.” I hung up, downed my drink, and put the empty cup in the sink.  I walked over to Tina, and kissed her on the forehead. She looked up from her book and warmly smiled at me . 

   “I love you Shane.” She said cocking her head to the side. “I love you too, Tina.” I replied with a meaningful smile. It seemed like everything was getting back to normal at my home.

    I walked out the door to meet Alice, she always made me laugh when I saw her driving in her blue Mini Cooper, it was almost like the car was made for her.

I got in and gave her a small side hug. 

“Hey Frankie” she said looking at my stitched up face.

“Hey” I said back

“When do you get those out again?”

“In 6 days” I said with a small groan, my body was so bruised and broken, I couldn’t wait to be able to do things with two hands again. “So where are we going Al?” 

“We are going to this new art gallery downtown. It’s suppose to be all the rage.”  She said blandly, let me know that she was only doing this for her school newspaper.