CTRL ALT Love

By Sheri L. Williams

CTRL ALT Love is the story of two people who wouldn't normally meet. Benji, a popular Twitch streamer an Izzy a former soccer player who got hurt and had to find new ways to keep going. They meet and fall in love but anxiety has other plans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Shorts
• Release date: Nov 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094435329

Sheri L. Williams

N/A

Book preview

1

Isobel

If she had known losing a leg would bring her the love of her life, she might have done something stupid earlier.

She woke groggy; that was anticipated. She had been preparing for the surgery for days, she knew what to expect when coming out of the anesthesia. What she hadn’t been prepared for, no matter how much they’d talked to her about it, was waking up and not feeling her left leg. She wiggled the toes on her right foot and it was so normal that the missing left toes had her crying. The monitor attached to her started going haywire and the door flew open with a gaggle of nurses and at least one doctor.

She wanted her mom, but the people in white and pink all swam into a giant mass of colors across her vision. Their muddied voices followed her into her dreams as she slipped back into her medicated sleep.

When she came to again, her mom was there. A golden head bowed over a book, one finger tapping against the chair in the nervous tic Izzy had inherited herself.

M-Mom? she croaked out; her dry throat made talking hard.

The blonde head shot up. Iz. My girl. Her mom’s voice cracked.

Mom. Tears filled her eyes as well.

Her mom lunged. Her arm tangled in the wires but it didn’t stop her from gathering Isobel up and hugging her tight.

It’s okay, Izzy, it’s okay. I’m here. I’ve got you.

Together they cried until they were a snotty mess and the nurses had to gently pry them apart to look at her vitals.

Right, Miss Duetch, everything looks like it’s doing exactly what it should be doing. Your surgeon will be in later this afternoon to talk with you and then we’ll get you set up with your PT and all that. Nurse Stevens was Izzy’s favorite for a reason. In the two months she’d been dealing with this whole nightmare, the nurse had never sugarcoated anything and had been wonderfully frank during every part of the process.

Thanks, Nurse Stevens. Izzy’s throat was still scratchy but she didn’t want the wonderful woman to think she wasn’t appreciated.

Sure thing, Isobel. You just rest and get better.

When they were alone, her mom sat on the edge of the bed by her hip and took her left hand, gently rubbing the tape over her IV. They sat together in the quiet.

Really, how are you?

Um, the pain isn’t bad, but it definitely feels like there is something wrong. Izzy scrunched her nose up before continuing. I know they told me I would feel the missing leg but I don’t think they were really able to make me understand just how weird it would feel.

I can see how it would be hard to explain if you've not actually felt it, her mom agreed.

Yeah. Anyway… She yawned. I can’t wait to get outta here and get home to my own bed.

Soon, baby. Her mom leaned down to kiss her forehead. You just rest. Losing a limb is tiring work.

Laughing hurt, but it was worth it to see her mom grin. The news that she had to lose her leg had been horrible, there had been a dark cloud over her house for weeks leading up to the actual surgery — so to see her mom smile was amazing.

Okay, Mom. You get some rest too. She saw her mom start to protest. I’m serious, Mom. Go home, get some sleep.

Soon wasn’t soon enough. Even though she'd been told to expect five to fourteen days in recovery, it sucked to still be in the horribly uncomfortable hospital bed at day ten.

The drainage from the surgery site was disgusting and the pain was horrible. Every thought Isobel had privately entertained about how she wouldn’t need the pain meds and she would be up faster than anyone else — well, it was all shit. Even as athletic as she was, she had never experienced pain like this before. Twisted ankles, bruised ribs, even that time she’d broken her wrist — none of that remotely compared to how she felt recovering from the loss of her leg.

She felt embarrassed and defeated, and by the time the PT showed up, she was snapping at everyone who came in her room.

Isobel, her mom said sharply.

Izzy hung her head. She knew she was being a bitch; she just couldn’t seem to stop herself.

Sorry, she mumbled.

Anger is completely normal, the therapist told them. He’d been introduced as Duncan and he had kind eyes. You’ve been through a traumatic event and an even more traumatic surgery. If you weren’t angry, I would worry. In his hand was a folder that she knew was going to hold her entire life. If it hasn’t already been suggested, our practice works with a regular therapist, we often have our patients work with them in conjunction with the physical therapy.

That is definitely something to think about, thank you. Her mom was much nicer than she was.

Of course. Duncan laid the folder down and opened it to start outlining her next steps. The day after you get discharged, you’ll have your first visit to our facilities. We’ll walk you through what I think can be some of the most important parts of amputation recovery. You’ll do gentle stretching and range-of-motion exercises; you’ll learn to roll in bed, sit on the side of the bed, and move safely to a chair, as well as how to position your surgical limb to prevent contractures.

Contractures? she asked, worried already.

Contracture is the development of soft-tissue tightness that limits joint motion, he explained gently. It’s fairly common and occurs when muscles and soft tissues become stiff from lack of movement. But you won’t have to worry about that, because I can tell you’re going to be a model patient and take care of yourself, right?

Of course, she responded immediately. She didn’t want to be in PT any longer than she had to be. Though, to be fair, this therapist seemed a lot nicer than the PT lady she’d had to deal with on the soccer team in school.

I think you’ll find that once Izzy gets past the anger, she’ll be the best patient you’ve ever had, her mom boasted.

Izzy felt herself blush, but her mom wasn’t wrong. Izzy refused to believe this new thing would change her life much. She was determined, always had been, and that wasn’t going to change just because she was missing a limb.

Good. Because I am going to push you. I’m going to expect you to work hard. We are going to make sure that this does not hinder your life at all.

And what about a prosthetic? her mom asked.

There are some great options out there. Even sports models, as it were. You played soccer before your accident, right?

Izzy nodded.

If you want to get back to soccer, I can do that.

You can?

We can. Together. It’ll be hard. You’ll want to quit. You’ll definitely curse me. But we can make it happen.

Oh, Iz. I knew this wouldn’t keep you down for long. Her mom had tears again. Izzy was sure it wouldn’t be the last time. They were both going to shed a lot of tears through this process.

Of course it won’t, she agreed. With a wince she pulled herself into a straighter sitting position. I want to play soccer again. Let’s do this.

Duncan leaned over the swinging table to shake her hand. He wore a sharp grin. We’ve got this.

Three days after meeting Duncan, Izzy was discharged.

Her mom had traded in her large Escalade for a Dodge Charger. It was still cool, had a gorgeous growl to it, but it was much easier for Izzy to climb into from the wheelchair the nurse rolled her out in.

You take care, Miss Deutch. The nurse handed over the bag of stuff friends had sent over during her stay and then it was just her and her mom, ready to finally go home after a very long two weeks.

They didn’t talk much on the drive back to their house. Izzy had a lot on her mind, mostly thinking about her PT appointment the next day and dreaming about her own bed. Her mom’s quiet should have been suspicious.

She realized what was going on when they pulled onto their street. Cars lined both sides of the road.

Mommm, she whined. It didn’t matter that she was twenty-two; she sounded seven.

Honey, if you didn’t expect this, I don’t know what to tell you. I had a hell of a time keeping them all out of your recovery room at the hospital.

But I look like crap and I haven’t showered in days.

Isobel Marie Deutch, do not act like your friends are so shallow that they would care. Daisy sent you that robe you love and Gina sent flowers more than once. She glowered Izzy into submission. Coach Moore sent me dinner every other night so I wouldn’t have to cook. These people love you.

I know. I do.

So you’ll let them welcome you home and then I’ll help you shower. I got the seat already.

Yeah, Mom. Okay. She smiled ruefully. And thank you, you’ve been amazing, I’m really lucky.

You are, but so am I. We will get through this, we’ve been through worse.

It was hard to think about how this might have gone if her dad were alive, but it’d been fifteen years — who knew what her life would have been like had he not died.

We have. She squeezed her mom’s hand as they pulled in. Her driveway was lined with a life’s worth of friends and family. She caught sight of her grandma, the only living grandparent she had, a woman who lived three states away.

Grandma Rose came down? She definitely hadn’t expected that. Her dad’s mom wasn’t a huge fan of her mom.

She arrived this morning, pushed into the house and announced she’d be here for a week.

Wow. Izzy was happy to see her, but it was going to be a tense week.

You know she loves you, Iz. And I will be on my best behavior. You deserve an easy week home.

As soon as the car was parked, Gina was the first to the door to help Izzy out.

"You little…