Chapter 17 - The Temporary Wheelchair
For eight months, I used wheelchair.
Then walker.
Then cane.
The word “paralyzed” had been used against me so often that I started treating walking as moral test.
Physical therapist Daniel Cho stopped me.
“You are not winning by standing.”
“I need legs.”
“You need nerves to heal. That is not character.”
I cried.
Then rehab.
Toe movement.
Ankle.
Quad.
Standing bars.
First transfer alone.
First shower bench.
First stair.
Hazel learned crawling faster than I learned walking.
She laughed whenever I used walker because wheels fascinated her.
I hated and loved.
Then one day, I fell.
Not dramatic.
Kitchen.
My right knee buckled.
I hit floor.
Hazel cried.
I sat there furious.
My mother? My own mother died years earlier? We haven't mentioned. Maybe Genevieve's mother died before father? Let's not.
Sarah came because she was visiting.
“You hurt?”
“No.”
“Then sit.”
“I am sitting.”
“Good.”
Then I laughed.
Recovery stopped being courtroom metaphor.
It became body.
I might never regain full strength.
By year two, I walked independently most days.
Long distances cane.
Residual numbness left foot.
No running.
I could carry Hazel carefully.
That was enough.
Then family court updated.
Julian detained, then convicted later.
Temporary sole custody continued.
He had limited video contact through approved system for a period before trial at his request.
I agreed? Court could order if safe. Hazel was toddler. Calls odd.
Julian sang songs.
She stared.
He cried.
I did not participate.
A supervisor handled.
Then one call he said:
“Daddy will come home soon.”
Supervisor ended.
Court suspended until he followed rules.
He later stopped requesting.
I had complicated feelings.
Was I protecting Hazel or letting his failures sever bond?
Therapist said:
“You are not responsible for making him use opportunities appropriately.”
Good.
Then my divorce.
Filed shortly after hospital.
Delayed by criminal case/financial discovery.
We did not wait years.
Temporary orders.
Prenup validated.
Julian contested? He argued unconscionable due company growth. He had separate counsel at signing, disclosure. Court upheld separate company/trust.
Marital estate included:
Joint home purchased after marriage? Source says home belonged family trust. It said our home, lake house, cars belonged family trust. Let's respect. Then marital estate smaller: Julian retirement, savings, earnings, household property. Prenup perhaps waived company and family trust but not jointly earned cash. Their home maybe trust asset before marriage? Actually "our home, lake house, both cars belonged to family trust." So title separate trust, but if marital contributions maybe no? We can say prenup addressed and trust paid; not marital.
Julian had significant salary savings.
But much frozen for restitution.
Divorce division accounted lawful marital property.
No punitive taking.
I did not get every asset because he cheated.
He got his legitimate retirement portion and personal property subject liens.
I got mine.
No alimony either direction due prenup/income.
Then Hazel support.
Julian ordered child support based on income/assets, but incarceration later reduced/arrears. Trust did not need.
I did not waive because child’s right.
Payments went to account for Hazel.
Then name.
May you like
I was already Vance? I never took Mercer? The story says Julian maybe husband Mercer but characters list Julian no surname. We can say I never changed from Vance. Good.
Hazel Vance-Mercer? We could give Hazel Vance. Birth certificate perhaps Hazel Vance Mercer? Let's say Hazel Genevieve Vance? Father's surname not required. Maybe parents chose Hazel Vance Mercer? Not important. Later she uses Vance.
