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May passed into June and my job was beginning to be quite enjoyable, I came out of my shy spell and I actually started to talk with others at work. Both male and female, I know uncanny, but true. I had to try and get over my fear of contact with the male of the species of this planet. Not an easy task to accomplish, let me assure you. It began at the trial, believe it or not, I myself can hardly believe it, and I went through it.

I saw that the judge had respected me during the trial. And there also were a few men who were very kind to me as I went to the cafeteria during recess. hey saw how I looked, and when they heard about the trial, they would say that they hoped that I won the case. They said that Jason was a scumbagg for what he did, and when they learned about my story, they said that I had courage to go through what I did. One of the men even treated me like a Princess. He would wait on me and tell me really bad jokes that were so awful that I had to laugh.

I made some strong acquaintances at work,a woman named Denise was on the same routine as me. We had the same days off and we ended up on coffee excursions almost weekly. She was married with no kids as of yet; Her husband was a labourer at the pipe fitting plant just north of the city. Denise was short, plump, not fat mind you, just round with blue eyes and long brunette hair. She stood a height of 4’11. That was cool.

I sort of got to know a guy there on my shift as well, his name was Pete, and he was shy and quiet, thin like a rail. He stood 5’6 and about 145 if that. That pair made quite a combination, let me tell you. Both had comic personalities, me I was again the odd out in the trio. But they did not mind that, at all, which pleased me to no end. Pete’s schedule ran one day longer than Denise’s and mine.

The three of us were returning from our 2:30 A.M. coffee break, (I do not drink coffee, I had my usual tea). We all were in the stock room loading our carts and beginning to move the carts to the floor; I reached for a few extra items to place on my cart and then moved the cart to the floor. I had forgotten a box on the table in the back, Denise went back with me as she needed to grab her extra cart that was loaded of fabrics and clothes for the clothes area. I had the baby area and shoes. As I was returning to the floor, my lights went out.

I woke up in the medical emergency room. I was disoriented and groggy. I had blood on my face and hands and my smock was covered in dirt mixed with blood. The supervisor was in a chair near me, Denise was on the floor.

She popped back a hour later and asked, "How are you doing, Melissa?"

I said, Not good,"

I attempted to sit up and fell forward, banging my head on the desk that was near the bed. I was out again, I woke up in the Emergency room several hours later, in a hospital gown. My first thought was ‘why me.’

A doctor arrived and told me,, "I want to do x-rays and a CT scan. Is that OK with you, Melissa?"

I loked at her, and nodded my head, as I did not want to communicate at that time. This was Déjá  vu. I began to wonder if these stupid hospital visits are a common occurrence, and when the hell were they going to stop. Sheesh! If it is not one thing, it's another. If you remember, I was diagnosed earlier with having Multiple Sclerosis, well this was the nail that popped that balloon.

I did not realize it yet; my life walking was going to be at a end. All sorts of Questions arose in me. Why me? What next? How was I going to live? Where was I going to live? Was my life over? I have always been smart, nothing I was even remotely prepared for even analytically speaking. I WAS DONE! They sat things come in threes, well if there was any indication I broke that record. Fuck. WHY? Was this some kind of punishment again for my life?

After a week in hospital again, I was told that I was never going to be able to walk again, that my life would be spent on four wheels. OK, I thought, 'How the hell am I going to get about that way?'

Not that I had that much experience in a wheelchair to begin with. Sure, I had those days being wheeled in a chair to physio every day, but this was going to be completely different. My God, how was I going to adapt to this way of life? Was there a choice? Was there a chance I could survive this? At this point I had to say no way in hell. I was set up with a temporary chair from the Abilities Council. The next chore was how to make the chair more friendly and how was I going to get to and from work.

Shit, my frustration level peaked again. I was sent back to The Rehabilitation Center and given a number of tests and challenges and then set free 12 days later. Shit, real life challenges and I was not comfortable with this new adventure.

I began to think of ways to get about. I tried the city transit services and they only had a few low floor buses, but they were not guaranteed to be running when I needed to be at work or when I was off work. A dilemma to say the least. I would soon find out that individuals like me now in chairs had more obstacles than those walking and this became my mission.

I was going to master this chair and challenges that went along with it. I was now mobile and I was on wheels and this new adventure would begin…….