The River Leith Read Online Free PDF Page B

and a criminal record. He tried to imagine himself in a lecture hall and failed miserably.
    Arthur smiled at him, gray eyes gleaming. “You could come back when you get out. Though you’ll have to ask Zach about it, I guess. I’m sure he won’t — well, I doubt he’d mind.” Arthur sounded suddenly hesitant. “Ah well, we’ll have to see how it all turns out. It’s hard to say just now. There’s so much we have to wait and see about.”
    “Does the doctor actually think I’ll ever get my memory back?” Leith had never asked outright, and no one had ever given him any direct information about this aspect of his prognosis.
    Arthur waved a hand as though it were an unimportant consideration. “Why bother worrying about that now? You have a lot on your mind — ”
    “Arthur,” Leith said. “It’s my life. I have a right to know these things.”
    Arthur nodded slowly, and then pushed the chair back a bit. That small motion alone told Leith all he needed to know.
    “Well,” Arthur began, averting his eyes, and then templing his long fingers in his lap before looking at Leith again. “The doctor believes that, due to the location and extent of your injury, the chances of you regaining your memory are rather slim. We’ve been told that we can’t expect it to happen…ever. And…some of us have had a harder time with that than others.”
    “Who’s us?”
    “Your friends and me, of course.” Arthur pursed his lips in a cynical way. “The psychiatrist told us that it’s a process of grieving. Denial, anger, bargaining, blah blah blah,” Arthur waved his hand again. “The main thing is that you’re alive, you’re here, and you’ll be just fine.” He gripped Leith’s forearm and squeezed it. “Just fine, do you understand?”
    Leith nodded, and took a slow breath. He wondered what stage of grief he was in, or if what he felt was grief at all. He pushed the plate of food away and nodded toward the corner of his room where there was a small table. “Hand me that basket. I think there’s some of that cheese left. Have you tasted it? Zach said it’s my favorite.”
    Arthur reached the basket to Leith, saying softly, “Zach would know.”

    That night, Leith flicked through the various screens on his cell phone. There were only a few photos on the phone, and no text messages. It was as though it had all been cleared off. Leith looked at the pictures: one of Arthur with his arm around a dark-haired woman wearing a Blue Flight T-shirt, and one of Zach behind a bar with a big, cheesy grin on his face. There was another of Marian with crossed-eyes and Zach behind her making bunny ears. And there was one of Ava playing tennis with Zach at an indoor court.
    Leith swiped to the texting function and chose Zach’s name. He tapped the little keyboard with his thumbs.
    I’d like it if you could visit tomorrow.
    Ten minutes later his phone beeped, and Zach’s reply appeared on the screen.
    I guess you’re out of food? Missing that cheese already?
    Smiling, Leith hit reply.
    The food is welcome. You would be even more welcome.
    Leith paused before hitting send, pondering if the comment seemed…odd. But he finally sent it. If Zach was his best friend then the idea that Leith wanted to see him wouldn’t be unwanted. The response was almost immediate.
    I’ll be there. 10 am?
    Excitement fluttered through Leith. He hadn’t looked forward to anything but getting out of the hospital until now.
    Whenever. I’ve got nowhere to go, unless you count art therapy. But my clay birds suck. I can skip it.
    The reply from Zach came in a few heartbeats.
    It’s a date.
    Leith smiled and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. He remembered something, and texted Zach again.
    Bring photos?
    The reply took several minutes this time, but it finally came.
    Sure. See you tomorrow.
    Leith fluffed his pillow and turned out the light. In the dark he pretended the ceiling was the sky, and fell asleep counting imaginary