about therapy to me.”
“He must have the same super powers as you. He has come so much farther than we expected him to by this point. He’s really pushing himself. I think he will probably be headed home for outpatient therapy in a month.”
Charlie winks at me and I blush and smile back.
“Has anyone taken you to the arboretum yet?” Sam asks me, abruptly changing the subject.
“No. What is that?”
“It’s an enormous indoor garden that we have here. It’s full of trees, shrubs, and flowers from around the world. It’s decorated for Christmas right now. It’s beautiful. I’m sure Charlie would love to see it too.”
My expression changes to a mix of hopeful yet confused. “Are we allowed to?”
“I arranged some time later this evening. I’ll be by to pick the two of you up after dinner.”
A huge smile spreads across my face. “Wow. Thanks, Sam. That’s so great of you to do that for us.”
“It’s my pleasure. The guy could use some cheering up. Being in that bed all day is really getting to him. He could really use something to distract him and improve his mood.”
“I’m sure you’re right. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him sit still for more than ten minutes. Have you told him about it yet?”
“I told him this morning. I’ve never a smile that big in all my life.”
I can’t help but smile myself. No matter how many times I tell myself that it’s not safe to love Charlie yet, my heart can’t seem to get the message.
***
I nervously force down dinner. Even though the food here is delicious, the butterflies in my stomach are squashing my appetite. I can’t think of anything else besides spending the evening with Charlie.
After I eat, I quickly braid my hair, brush my teeth and apply some lip gloss. I’m forced to wear the clothing the colony provides. They’re great for comfort, but awkward for a date. I anxiously take a seat on the edge of the recliner and glance at the clock. 6:15. I slowly exhale a deep breath in an attempt to relax myself. A knock at the entrance to my room makes me jump.
“Coming!” I shout a little too anxiously as I practically leap out of the chair.
I pull back the curtain to reveal Charlie sitting in his wheelchair, holding a single pink rose in his hand, beaming from ear to ear. “Ready to go?” he asks, handing me the rose.
I try to restrain my smile while I accept the gift. I nod my head and softly say, “yes.”
Sam joins us and handles the job of pushing Charlie’s chair. It’s a bit of a walk to the arboretum, and it does a good job of tiring me out. But once we reach the indoor garden, all of my exhaustion slips away.
The immense oak doors open to an enormous room with glass ceilings that stand at least forty feet tall. The dark sky outside is dotted with more stars than I ever knew existed. The lights inside the arboretum are dim, and delicately illuminate only what is necessary.
A subtle floral fragrance greets us as we step onto the stone walkway that is bordered by Japanese maple trees. Magnificent orange and purple spider flowers surround them, filling in the open space. The walkway opens up into a seating area covered by a pergola made of dried bamboo stems. Bright, magenta bougainvillea vines weave their way through the bamboo, creating a breathtaking shelter. Strings of white lights are wrapped around each corner post of the pergola, inducing a soft, romantic atmosphere.
Exotic chirps of unseen birds sound in the distance. Bright blue butterflies flutter past us hurriedly, looking for their next landing.
My gaze drifts all around, not knowing where to settle.
“It’s beautiful, isn't it?” Sam asks me.
“It’s amazing!”
“This is just the beginning,” a female voice announces with a heavy Australian accent.
We all turn to look. A tall auburn haired woman wearing the traditional black scrubs emblazoned with the colony's logo stands with a welcoming smile on her face. “Hello, I’m Ellison. I’m one of the groundskeepers here at the arboretum. I’ll be taking you on your tour this evening.”
Sam introduces us to Ellison and leaves us in her hands. “The arboretum is quite expansive so we will be utilizing the electric carts this evening. I’ll guide you to the boarding area.”
She takes over the duty of pushing Charlie's chair as we continue slowly along the beautiful stone pathway.
“Many of the plants here in the arboretum come from distant