The Disclaimer: This is a piece of fanfiction. Outside of the names and a few basic character traits very little of this resembles the actual characters from the show. This story is also filled with clichés and is beyond derivative using a subject that’s been addressed more than few times in Daria fanfiction so don’t e-mail me pointing that out. In spite of being obvious, I will say that Daria and all related characters are property of MTV Networks and Viacom. No rights are claimed or implied. And yes, this document was created using Word and converted using their html program so don’t get snotty about it. I’m too lazy to waste time coding by hand. If it bugs you, don’t read it. I’ll live. Now to the hack job:

Infinitely More

Daria and Jane left the theater for the short walk to the Pizza King. While it wasn’t the traditional way to celebrate graduation it met the needs of the two young women perfectly. As they made their way to the restaurant they made small talk.

“I really figured you would have been hanging out with Tom tonight. Why not?” Jane asked.

“We saw each other after the ceremony.” Daria said, “I’ll see him again tomorrow before he leaves for his aunt’s. Tonight I wanted to be with you. After all, you’re flight’s early. I won’t see you again for the whole summer.”

Jane understood. This would probably be one of the last times they would be able to really be with each other. After she got back from that artist’s retreat she would only have a few days before she would be leaving for college halfway across the country. She instinctively knew these times would be precious memories as the years passed.

“So what are you going to do all alone for the whole summer? After all, Helen can’t force you into volunteer work in order to pad your applications anymore. You got your first choice school.”

Daria shrugged her shoulders. “As little as possible. I figure I can coast for a few days because of graduation. After that I’ll improvise. The difficult part will be goofing off without having to work too hard to do it.”

Jane chuckled and smiled. “That’s really you.” She thought.

Silently they kept walking, enjoying the night.

No too far away Brittany was driving her new graduation present. Jodie, sitting in the passenger side, looked concerned.

“Um. Brittany, Don’t you think you’re going a little too fast? After all, we’re coming up on a stop sign.” 

“But we’re late for Kevy’s party.” Brittany replied. “I can see there’s nothing coming, plus the cops never give me a ticket.”

“With that shirt on, it’s no wonder.” Jodie thought.

Just then Brittany’s cell phone rang. As she fumbled to answer it, the phone fell under her seat. Foolishly, she unbuckled her belt and reached down to retrieve it. As she did, a prominent part of her torso brushed against the lever on the steering column and accidentally switched off the headlights.

Daria and Jane stopped for a moment at the intersection. Not seeing anything, both began to cross the street.

Inside the car, Brittany finally got her phone and sat back up. Seeing her lights were off, she switched them back on just in time to see the familiar shape of the stop sign and an outline of a person.

“Look out!” Jodie screamed.

Brittany swerved in an attempt to miss the shape and the car went straight into the corner of one of the buildings.

Jane, standing in the middle of the intersection, watched with horror as the car’s headlights suddenly switched on and then hit Daria, throwing her over the roof. It happened so quickly Jane had no chance to scream a warning. An instant later she heard a loud crash and a car horn. Looking around, she soon found Daria lying in the curb. Rushing over, she saw her friend, unconscious, looking like a broken action figure. Once she noticed the blood, her mind took over and she started calling for help.

It was unnecessary. The moment the people in the Pizza King heard the noise of the crash they all came rushing out to see what had happened.  Quickly a crowd appeared, some just looking, others trying to help. In spite of their best efforts, Jane kept people away from Daria while constantly screaming for someone to call for help. 

Somebody must have done so because a few minutes later several police cars and ambulances were on the scene and everyone was getting proper medical care. Once it was determined that Jane was unharmed she was taken away by an officer to tell what happened. In spite of not wanting to leave Daria’s side she reluctantly agreed to go along provided they didn’t keep her away too long. The last thing she saw of Daria that evening was her left boot sticking out from under a team of paramedics as they worked on her.

The questioning took longer than Jane had anticipated. She relayed what she had seen countless times to several different officers. As things drug on she learned who was in the car. While she knew who was in the car, she had no idea how anybody was. Finally one of the officers offered to take her to the hospital. Once there, she barely let the car stop before she was out and running into the emergency room. Going up to the desk, she waited impatiently for someone to come up and tell her how Daria was. After a few seconds with no help, she spun around to see if she could find someone in the hallway. As she did she spotted Jake, Helen, and Quinn all sitting in the waiting area. Not giving the desk another thought, she ran to where they were sitting.

When she got there she stopped for a moment to see if she could tell how Daria was without asking. Jake was sitting there staring into space sobbing quietly, Helen sat quietly looking stoic and holding Jake’s hand, and Quinn was sitting alone crying uncontrollably. As she stood there, she said nothing, not knowing how to interrupt them without making things worse. The problem was quickly solved when Helen noticed her. Letting go of Jake’s hand, she got up and, without saying a word, hugged Jane. While not one for much contact like that, Jane was grateful for the hug, it was a relief to her in many ways at that very moment. After separating, Jane and Helen went over to some more chairs, out of earshot of Jake and Quinn, and sat down.

“I’m sorry I just now got here but the police wouldn’t let me go until I told the story to about a dozen officers.” Jane said.

Helen nodded in understanding.

“It’s all right. You’re here now.”

Jane finally asked the question that was bugging her the most.

“So how is she?”

“We don’t know yet.” Helen said, “Nobody’s come out to tell us anything. A few nurses and doctors have come through but all they’ll say is they’re doing everything they can.” Stopping for a moment, Helen worked to maintain her composure before continuing. “I hope they get out here soon. I’m afraid Jake’s going to snap in he doesn’t hear something soon.”

“I’m sure you are all about ready to break down right now.” Jane thought, “I know I am.” Out loud she said, “I’m sure she’ll be okay.” Jane hoped she sounded sincere. Having seen her just seconds after the accident, she knew how messed up she had to be. 

Helen gave Jane a weak smile and nodded. “Thank you.” Standing up, she asked, “Would you like to come over and wait with us? I know Jake would appreciate it and I’m sure Quinn would too.”

The mention of Quinn turned on a switch in Jane’s mind. She needed to call Trent. She was sure the gig was over and he and the gang were probably loitering around the house by now. Nodding back, she said, “Sure. But first I need to call Trent. He probably hasn’t heard yet. I’m sure he’ll want to come here too.”

“Of course. Take your time.” Helen said. “If we hear anything, we’ll let you know as soon as you get back.”

With that, Jane left to find a phone.

Leaving the waiting area, she walked down the corridor toward a sign with a telephone on it. In the distance she saw a familiar figure leaving a room with a small group. Rushing her pace, she caught up with Jodie and her parents. When she got to them she didn’t wait before beginning.

“Jodie, How are you?”

Before she could answer, Mr. Landon spoke up.

“She’s fine. Now if you’ll excuse us, we want to get home.”

Jane was upset; she wanted to talk to Jodie for a minute. She was one of the people who had been there. She needed to know if she really was okay. She wasn’t going to take his answer as the only one. Looking Mr. Landon in the eye, Jane became very forceful.

“Excuse me. I was there when this all happened. I just want to know how she is.”

Andrew was about to reply with something harsh when Jodie raised her hand to stop him. “It’s okay Dad. I want to talk to her. She’s a friend.”

Backing off, he let his daughter speak.

“I’m okay Jane. Thanks for coming.”

“I just got here. They haven’t said anything about Daria yet.”

“I know.” Jodie said. “Every time I asked all the nurse would say was they were doing everything they could. I guess that’s their standard reply for this kind of thing.”

“You look like you came out okay though.” Jane said.

“Yea. I just have a couple of cut and bruises. The combination of the air bag and being strapped in saved me from getting hurt worse.” 

Finally Jane asked the big question. “So how’s Brittany?”

Jodie said nothing. She just bowed her head and started crying.

“She didn’t make it.” Mrs. Landon said. “They said she wasn’t buckled in and was so close to the airbag when it deployed it likely broke her neck. They figure it was instant.”

This was more than Jane could stand. Not saying a word, she ran down the hallway. She couldn’t bear to hear any more bad news. As she ran, she passed the phone bank. Realizing what she had done, she turned around and went back to where they were. Taking out a quarter, she dialed the number. After several rings Trent finally picked up.

“Hello?”

“Trent?”

Trent recognized Jane’s voice but could tell things didn’t sound right.

“Janey? Is everything okay?”

“No Trent. I’m at the hospital. Daria’s been in an accident.”

“Huh?”

“Daria’s been in an accident.”

This was completely unexpected to say the least. “How is she?” He asked.

“We don’t know. They haven’t told us anything yet.”

Immediately, Trent started looking around for his shoes. “Stay right there. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

“Thanks. And Trent?”

“Yea?”

“I love you.”

“It must be bad.” Trent thought. “She only says things like that when she’s scared.”

“I love you too Janey.” He said. “I’m leaving right now.”

“Thanks. Bye.”

Hanging up the phone, Jane leaned against the wall, slid to the floor and cried.

Eventually she let out enough grief that she could function again. Getting up, she found a bathroom and, after blowing her nose and cleaning herself up a little, went back to the waiting area. When she got there Trent and Tom had arrived. After a brief round of questioning and an explanation in her own words of what happened, everyone sat down to wait for someone to come out and tell them how Daria was.

The wait seemed like forever but eventually a man approached the group and introduced himself.

“Mr. and Mrs. Morgendorffer? I’m Dr. Reed. I was in charge of treating your daughter when she arrived.”

Without thinking, Jake blurted out, “How’s my little girl!?” To calm him some Helen squeezed his hand tightly and interrupted him.

“I’m sorry doctor. We’re all on edge right now.”

Dr. Reed nodded in understanding. “It’s okay. I understand.”

“So how is she?” Helen asked.

“We’ve managed to stabilize her as much as possible right now. She got here in pretty serious shape. She has a severe concussion, numerous broken bones, internal bleeding, and signs of some spinal trauma. It will take more time to fully assess how much damage was really done.”

Both Jake and Quinn reacted with an outcry of grief so powerful nothing could calm them down. For several minutes nobody could do anything as they all either tried to soothe the pair or let the news of Daria’s condition sink in. Finally things quieted down enough for Helen to speak again.

“How is she now?”

“Like I said, we’ve stabilized her as well as we can for the moment.” Dr. Reed said, “She’s in serious condition but I’ve seen more severe cases come in. The next few hours will be critical but I feel she’ll be more stable in the morning. Then we can start taking care of her injuries more thoroughly. It’s not going to be easy but there’s room to be cautiously optimistic.”

“Thank you Doctor.” Helen said. “When can we see her?”

“Not just yet. She’s still being moved to the ICU. When they have her settled in, a nurse will come to get you. Rest assured, we’ll take excellent care of your daughter.” Looking at his watch for a second, he said, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go check on her again.”

Helen smiled at the doctor, “Thank you for all you’ve done.” She said. Jake, still speechless, gave the doctor a look of gratitude for his efforts. After Dr. Reed left, Jake, Helen and Quinn all sat back down. Helen instinctively put her arms around Jake. It comforted her to do this as much as it did him. Quinn, pulled her feet into the chair, leaned over, rested her head on Helen’s shoulder and hugged her mom for the same reason.

A short time later a nurse came over to them. They could finally see Daria. Everyone got up but the nurse explained that only Jake and Helen would be allowed to see her right then. Not even Quinn would be allowed into the room. After a small amount of protest from Quinn, Jake and Helen followed the nurse to a small room off from the trauma area. What they saw scared them more than not knowing the fate of their daughter. Lying in the bed attached to several machines and with tubes sticking out of her was their oldest child. The could barely recognize her under all the bandages and other layers covering her injuries but the face looked like her in spite of the bruising and swelling. Seeing her daughter like that was more than Helen could take and finally she completely broke down. As she wept into his shoulder, Jake knew it was his time to be strong. Softly he whispered into her ear, “Helen. Please. Not in front of her. At least not right now.”

Pushing away, she nodded that she understood and they went over to the bed. Looking down, they saw Daria was unconscious. As she lay there she looked so peaceful, as if she was in no pain. Only one hand wasn’t tied down. Helen assumed that one wasn’t hurt as bad. Not wanting to disturb it and possibly make things worse, she carefully took her fingers and stroked the back of Daria’s hand and, in a soft voice said, “Hello Sweetie. Don’t worry. We’re here now.”

Knowing there was nothing that would get Helen away from the bed at that moment, Jake pulled up a chair for Helen to sit in while she stroked Daria’s hand. Soon he found another one and joined his daughter on the other side of the bed. As the night passed, the doctor and several nurses came by frequently to see how Daria was doing. Eventually Dr. Reed returned.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning Doctor.” Helen said. “How is she doing?”

Dr. Reed smiled. “She’s much better. That’s why I’m here. We’re getting ready to take her up to surgery. She’s stabilized enough we can finally take care of her injuries more thoroughly. I’m sorry but before we take her, you’ll need to leave. If you’ll go out to the waiting area someone will show you where the surgical wing is and you can wait there.”

“How long will she be there?” Jake asked.

Dr. Reed shook his head. “It’s hard to say. But rest assured. We’ll do everything we can to get her better. As soon as they’re done, someone will come out and tell you everything.” Gesturing toward the door, he said, “Now if you’ll excuse us.”

Taking the cue, Jake and Helen went out into the waiting area. Saying nothing, they led everyone to the surgical wing to begin the second vigil. After getting there, they finally told everyone what they knew and, with the information presented, they all returned to waiting for more news. Another few hours passed but eventually someone came out. This time a much calmer Jake took the lead.

“So how is she?”

“She’ll be fine.” The doctor said, “Her internal injuries weren’t as severe as we had feared. We managed to patch things up and set her bones. The scans do show some spinal trauma though. We really won’t know the extent of it until the swelling goes down more and she’s more conscious but as for her other injuries I feel confident she’ll recover well enough.”

“When can we see her?” Quinn asked.

“Not for a while. She’s in recovery. It will be a while before we move her to a room. Until then, you’re free to wait here.”

Everyone thanked the doctor for his efforts and, after he left, Jake and Helen tried to encourage everyone to go home and get some rest. They would stay there and if anything happened would call everyone to let them know.  In spite of their encouragement, nobody budged. They were all going to stay put until they got to see Daria for themselves.   

The hours of waiting had finally caught up with many of the small group and everyone except for Jake and Helen were sleeping in the chairs when the surgeon returned. Quickly everybody woke up as he told Jake and Helen that Daria was now in a room and they could stay with her. He warned them not to be too shocked at her appearance. They had placed several pieces of hardware around Daria to immobilize her spine to help prevent any further damage. After telling them he would be in later to check on her and explain more about her condition he excused himself and a nurse led the gang to the room.

Standing outside the door, the nurse informed everybody that there could only be three people in the room at a time and any visits should be very short for the moment. Once he was gone, Helen told everyone to wait until they were in the room and they would let them in one at a time for just a few minutes each. After each of them saw Daria they wanted them all to go home and get some rest. The only exception would be Quinn, who would be allowed to stay with her sister as long as she wanted.

After a few minutes alone with their daughter, Jake came to the door and asked who wanted to be first. Since Tom was the closest, he went in. The others stood quietly wondering what was going on. Soon he came out and, without a single word, walked down the hallway. This reaction scared both Jane and Quinn. For him to react that way must mean she looked pretty bad. Next, Trent went in. After he came out he looked at Jane and nodded for her to go in.

Slowly pushing open the door, her view was blocked by Jake standing next to the bed. All she saw was the backs of machines that were making beeping noises and the footboard. Too scared at what she might see, she stared at the floor as she walked toward the foot of the bed. Once there she took a deep breath for strength and looked up. What she saw then truly frightened her. The thing in the bed looked nothing like her best friend. All she saw was a mound of bandages and tubes. Surrounding the head was a large frame that looked like a TV antenna. Wanting to be sure it was Daria, she went around Jake to get a closer look at the face. As she gazed through all the cuts and swelling it quickly became real to her that this was in fact her best friend lying there. Without a single word being uttered she ran from the room. In the hallway, she grabbed Trent and buried her face in his chest sobbing uncontrollably. Knowing it was time for her to get away, Trent put his arm around his little sister and led her to his car for the ride home.

Seeing all the reactions, Quinn stood in the hallway alone trembling. “Was Daria that bad off?” she wondered. “What if I freak out in there? I don’t want to make things worse. I just don’t want her to die.” As she stood there, the door opened and Helen came out.

“Quinn? You can come in now.”

“I don’t know if I want to Mom.”

Looking into her youngest daughter’s eyes, Helen could see her fear but felt compelled to ask. “Why?”

“I’m really scared.” Quinn said. “I mean what if Daria…”

Going over, Helen hugged Quinn. “I don’t know dear. Whatever happens though I know you need to be in there right now. It will do Daria and all of us good if we’re together.” Looking at Quinn, she asked, “Do you understand?”

Nodding, she and Helen went into the room to join Jake as they watched over their daughter and sister.

Daria heard strange noises as she opened her eyes. Not being able to focus she started to reach for her glasses. For some reason, she didn’t seem to be able to move anything. As she tried, she let out a low groan. A second later she heard her dad’s voice.

“Helen! Quinn! She’s awake!”

Still trying to move, she heard Helen say, “Quiet Jake. Don’t get so excited. Page the nurse. She asked us to call her when she woke up.”

A second later, she saw the familiar but blurry shape of her parents and sister. Realizing something wasn’t right she tried to speak. She tried but her throat was very sore. After a few unsuccessful grunts, she finally managed to croak out a few words.

“Wh, what’s going on?”

After asking the question she wished she hadn’t. Her throat was on fire. She wanted to move or do something but nothing seemed to be working. Slowly she started to panic. Something bad must have happened. But what was it? As the fear sank in she started to breathe fast. Then she felt a soft hand rub her cheek and her Mom’s voice again.

“Calm down Sweetie. It’s okay we’re here.”

Helen’s touch soothed her some. As she continued feeling her mom’s gentle stroking she felt more in control. Once more she tried to speak.

“Wh…”

Helen interrupted her. “Don’t try to speak. They just took the tube out so your throat is still sore.” Helen saw Daria’s eyes move toward her. They were cloudy and not really focused but to her at that very moment they were the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. “You’re in the hospital. You’ve been in an accident.”

“Accident?” Daria thought. “When?” Not sure of what Helen meant, Daria once more tried to ask a question. As Helen saw Daria open her mouth she knew her daughter was trying to speak again. Before she could, Helen stopped her.

“Don’t try to talk just yet. There will be plenty of time for that. Just get some rest. Don’t worry. We’ll be right here.”

A moment later the nurse arrived and asked all of them to leave the room for a few minutes. She said they could all return soon but for the moment they needed to go. Daria quickly found it hard to focus but through the haze she was in she heard a woman and man talking about something. Every now and then she heard her name spoken but that was about all she understood. Eventually she heard the familiar voice of Quinn and her parents and once more their outline in her sight. She tried to understand what they were saying but she was just so sleepy. Too tired to fight, she closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she once more tried to speak. This time she found her throat wasn’t hurting but she was still having a hard time forming words. Eventually though she succeeded. In a weak voice she said, “Mom?”

A second later she heard Helen’s voice.

“I’m here Sweetie.”

Shifting her eyes in the direction of the sound. Daria once more saw the familiar outline of Helen. Again she asked, “Mom?”

“Yes Daria?”

“Where are my glasses?”

Helen was more than surprised. Out of all the questions Daria could ask, why was that the first one? What made it so difficult was she had no idea where they were. She figured they were ruined in the accident.

“ I don’t know.” She said.

Just then, Quinn came over.

“Here you go Mom.”  Handing her Daria’s extra pair, Quinn said, “I picked these up when Dad and I went back to the house. I figured she’d need them.”

Helen smiled at Quinn. “Thanks Dear.” Taking the glasses out of their case, Helen tried to figure out how to put them on. The frame surrounding Daria’s head was merely the first of the obstacles. The bandages had made her head much bigger. It was going to be a tight squeeze. Carefully, she moved the glasses toward Daria’s face.

“Now let me know if you’re uncomfortable and I’ll take them off immediately.”

Still not sure of what was happening, Daria felt powerless as Helen put the glasses on for her. Once they were on, she felt pressure around her temples. For some reason it was a tight fit but she was willing to deal with the discomfort to be able to focus on things again.

As her eyes adjusted, it quickly became obvious she really was in a hospital. Moving her eyes, she soon saw Jake and Quinn standing on one side of her. They were smiling but looked sad. On the other side of her she saw Helen with the same expression. This time as she lay there she found the words coming easier.

“What’s happened?” She asked.

Once more Helen explained that she had been in an accident. For the next few minutes Helen tried to explain the events of the previous few days. As she listened, Daria said nothing. Finally, Helen finished and Daria looked at her.

“How long have I been here?”

“A couple of days.” Jake said.

Turning her attention to her dad, she asked, “When can I go home?”

Jake gave Daria a nervous smile. Apparently the medication was still messing with her mind some. “Not for a little while Kiddo.”

From out of nowhere, Daria heard a strange voice.

“So you’re awake. That’s a very good sign.”

Looking the direction of the new voice, she saw a woman with blonde hair and glasses come into her view. From her appearance it was obvious she was a doctor.

“Good afternoon Daria. It’s nice to see you’re finally awake.” She said, “I’m Dr. Wilson. How are you feeling?”

“What kind of question is that?” Daria thought. “I’ve been mangled in an accident and am bolted to my bed. How should I feel? With a cross look on her face, Daria asked, “How should I feel… Doctor?”

Dr. Wilson smiled slightly. “I’m sorry. I worded that poorly. I mean are you feeling any discomfort or pain?”

“I don’t feel any pain but, now that you mention it, my stomach is a little itchy.”

Looking at Daria’s gown, Dr. Wilson said, “Itchy huh? I hope you don’t mind but I’d like to take a look at your stitches.” Looking up, she asked Jake, Helen, and Quinn. “If you don’t mind I’d like to make the examination in private. Could you leave? When I’m done I’ll call you back in.”

There was silence for a few seconds then Daria heard a door close. A moment later Dr. Wilson spoke again.

“Okay Daria. I’m going to check your dressing. You might feel a slight chill but it’s nothing to be concerned with.”

Powerless, Daria said nothing she just laid there waiting for the humiliation to end. She didn’t know how long it took but soon Dr. Wilson was back in her view. 

“Okay Daria. Everything seems fine. The itching is probably a reaction to the pain medication. We’ll switch you to different one and see if that fixes things.”

“If you say so. You’re the doctor.”

Pulling up a chair, Dr. Wilson sat near Daria. What she was about to do needed to be where she could let Daria see her.

“Daria. I wanted to get your family out of the room before I spoke with you about this.”

“About what?”

“About your injuries. Of all the people here, you’re the last to find out about what happened. I felt I should let you know how things are.”

With a cold look in her eyes, Daria gazed at the doctor. “So tell me.”

Dr. Wilson nodded and with no delay began.

“When they brought you in we found that you had suffered…”

After a long explanation of everything they had found the doctor went on to explain what all they had done to fix the problems. Finally she came to the part about the spinal trauma. As Daria listened, she knew that was the worst of her injuries. Ending her explanations, Dr. Wilson looked at Daria.

“So do you have any questions?”

“Plenty.” Daria said. “The biggest one being about my spine. You said it was injured. I know that’s not good but how bad is it?”

“We don’t know yet.” Dr. Wilson said, “It’s still too early to be certain. The preliminary scans showed possible damage but until the swelling goes down more we won’t know for certain.” Getting up, she said, “One second.” Walking to the foot of the bed, she reached down and pinched the big toe sticking out of the left cast. “Do you feel anything?”

“Where?” Daria asked.

“Never mind.” Going back to the chair, she said, “This could just be temporary. If it is it will go away and you’ll get feeling back in your legs soon.”

“What if it isn’t temporary?” Daria asked.

“Let’s deal with that when we have to okay? Right now let’s focus on fixing all your other injuries and be optimistic?”

“She doesn’t know me very well.” Daria thought. “If you say so.” She said.

Dr. Wilson smiled. “Very good. Just remember if you need me for anything, just press the page button on the side of your bed.”

“Where? I can’t see anything, I can’t move my head.”

“Oh sorry.” Picking up Daria’s free hand, the doctor placed it over the buttons and said, “The first two raise and lower the bed but have been disabled to prevent any accidental movement to your spine. The only one that works is the last button. Just press it and a nurse will be here quick. Now I’ll let your family back in the room and leave all of you alone.”

“Okay doctor.”

Daria heard the footsteps of Dr. Wilson leaving and a second later, more footsteps as a crowd entered. Once more she saw her parents and Quinn hovering around her bed. While she was happy to see them, it, combined with the information she had just learned, made her very uncomfortable. She wished she was still unconscious. Then she would be blissfully unaware of the nightmare she was now living.

Over the next several hours her day turned into a routine of visits from various doctors and nurses. Each time one would visit the whole room had to be cleared out so something else humiliating could be done. About the only bright spot for Daria was when one of them fixed the dressing on her head so she could wear her glasses more comfortably.  Eventually though the visits grew fewer. She figured it was late and most of them had gone home. As the shadow on the ceiling vanished, Daria knew it was finally night. Her family was still there but nobody was saying much. Slowly, in spite of her mind working through all the things she learned that day, she drifted into a restless sleep knowing that no matter what happened from now on, her life was changed forever.

A grunting noise pulled Daria out of her slumber. For a moment she panicked until she remembered where she was. Once she was again familiar with her surroundings she panicked again. Things got worse the more she lay there. In spite of all her efforts the only thing she could move was her right arm. Everything else was either in a cast or restraints to prevent further harm. The more she tried to move something the more scared she became. “What if I’m stuck this way for the rest of my life?” Her heavy breathing finally became loud enough to wake Jake, whose snoring was what woke Daria to begin with.

Rushing over to where his daughter lay, he saw the fear in her eyes and heard her frantic breathing. Scared and unsure of what was happening he finally had the clarity to press the page button. A second later a voice came from the intercom.

“Is there a problem?”

Jake was furious. Would he have pressed the button if things were fine? “Yes there’s a problem! Daria’s freaking out!” A second later he added. “And so am I!”  

The outburst woke both Helen and Quinn who saw what was happening. Rushing to Jake’s side, Helen saw what was going on. Looking at her daughter, she asked, “Daria, what’s wrong?”

Between the breaths, Daria managed to say, “I can’t move.”

Looking at Jake, Helen said, “Take Quinn outside.” Seeing he wasn’t listening she repeated the command. This time he heard her order and took a frightened Quinn into the corridor. Once they were gone, Helen turned her attention back to Daria.

“It’s okay dear. Calm down. Your arm and legs are in casts. That’s why they can’t move. Don’t worry. You’re going to be fine.” Slowly she started rubbing Daria’s right hand. It was the only piece of her that she could safely handle. Apparently it was all that was necessary. “See Sweetie, You can move. This arm is just fine, and you’ll soon be free of all this and back to normal.”

Feeling her mom’s touch and hearing her soothing words calmed Daria down some but she still was upset. The doubt was too great right then. Looking at Helen, she asked, “But what if I’m not. What then?”

“Then we’ll deal with it.” Helen said. “Just remember, you won’t have to deal with it alone.”

By the time the nurse arrived, Helen had Daria calmed considerably. She assured her that Daria was fine now. She had just had a bad dream. The nurse went ahead and checked Daria’s vitals anyhow and said the doctor would be in soon to talk with all of them. After the nurse left, Jake and Quinn returned. Both were relieved to see Daria was not freaking out anymore but were very careful not to do anything that might set her off again.

The day passed much like the previous afternoon. There were frequent visits by several hospital staff and her family was always present. The more Daria learned about her condition, the more she realized this was going to be the routine for a long time. Morning passed into afternoon and after another nurse left Helen came over.

“There are some people who want to see you. Is that okay?”

“Who?”

“Jane and Tom.”

Daria was shocked. “What are they doing here?” She asked. “They’re both supposed to be out of town.”

“Something more important kept them here.” Helen said. “So is it okay if they come in? They’ve been waiting for quite a while.”

That wasn’t something Daria wanted. She didn’t want anyone else to see her like this if she could help it.

“Not right now. I’m feeling a little tired.”

“Are you sure Sweetie? They wouldn’t stay for too long. They’d just like to see you.”

“Really. I’m too tired to see anyone right now.”

Helen suspected that was just partial reason but let it go. This wasn’t the time to be pressuring Daria.

“I’ll let them know. Perhaps later.”

Daria tried to nod before remembering the frame bolted to her skull. Frustrated, she fought the urge to curse and merely said, “Okay Mom. Later.”

The week passed. As many of her injuries improved much of the monitoring equipment slowly disappeared. The doctor visits became fewer as the nurse visits increased. For Daria, not able to move anything, time became something of a blur. The television wasn’t in clear view and the only way she could tell the passage of time was by the movement of shadows on the ceiling. Her parents and Quinn were still there most of the time but slowly they began to take rotation. Finally the time came when all three members of her family weren’t with her. She was grateful for the time alone. It allowed her to do something she had wanted to do ever since waking up. Lying in the dim light of her room, she let the tears start slowly but before too long she was crying from the very bottom of her soul.

By the next morning, she had regained control of herself. Waiting for the nurse to pay her first visit of the day, she heard a door open. Expecting to see the smiling face of her caretaker she was shocked to see Jane looking down at her instead. Daria couldn’t believe her eyes.

“What are you doing here!?”

Jane wanted to say, “Great to see you too.” but decided to play it cool for the moment. There would be time for joking around later. “I kept trying to see my best friend but kept getting sent away. I missed seeing her so much that I decided to just take the initiative sneak in.”

Daria was embarrassed. She still wasn’t thrilled at Jane seeing her like this but she probably shouldn’t have kept sending her away either. “Sorry about that.” She said. “Vanity may not be my strong point but I have looked better.”

Smiling, Jane said, “Don’t worry about it. You’re still here and that makes you look great.” Standing there, she waited for Daria to say something. After Daria didn’t fill in the gap she decided to bring up the subject. “Um, about that night. I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?” Daria asked.

“Not getting you out of the way. If I had seen the car in time…”

“You would have what?” Daria interrupted. “I don’t remember the accident but from what I gather it happened so fast there was nothing you could have done. You didn’t do anything wrong. You have nothing to apologize for. Brittany’s the one I blame. I’m glad she’s dead.”

The coldness of that last comment took Jane by surprise. Daria might have been a little rough on Brittany over the years but to say something like that wasn’t like her. She could understand her being angry but it seemed very harsh. Of course, she was standing there alive and well while Daria was pinned to a mattress due to Brittany’s actions. If the positions were reversed would she feel any different? Feeling that he conversation was going in a bad direction, she changed the subject.

“Have you heard from Tom yet?

“He’s called and come by a few times but I’ve avoided talking to him or letting him in. Of course he hasn’t snuck in to see me yet.”

“Okay I’m busted.” Jane said. “But you should at least talk to him. He’s very worried. All he wants to do is see you and hold your hand. When he comes around please let him in.”

“I’ll think about it.” Daria said.

The visit was cut short when the nurse came in for Daria’s morning checkup. She explained that visiting hours hadn’t started yet and Jane should leave now and return later. Excusing herself, Jane grabbed Daria’s hand and gave it a squeeze before leaving. Later that day, Tom came by. This time when Helen asked, Daria agreed but asked for Helen to leave them alone.

For over thirty minutes Helen waited out in the hallway while her daughter and Tom were alone. She figured Daria was in good hands. Tom was a responsible young man but she didn’t like not being with Daria right now. That one night she stayed away was agony for her. She knew she was being overprotective but after almost losing her, she wanted to be with her as much as possible. Eventually Tom left. When he said goodbye he seemed to be in good spirits. Helen had feared Daria would try to shut her friends out but it seemed she was going to keep her small circle of confidantes close to her during this time. That was a relief. Smiling she went in to sit with her daughter. From that day, both Tom and Jane saw Daria almost every day that summer.

A week passed. One morning, Dr. Krastaa came in the room. “Good morning Miss Morgendorffer. It is nice to see that you are awake.”

“Good morning doctor.” Daria said. At first she had a hard time understanding his thick Indian accent but over time she had come to understand what he was saying quite well.

“The swelling around your spine has gone down a great deal. I thought we would try again today. Is that fine with you?” He asked.

“Do I have any choice?” She replied.

“No you don’t. Now I’m going to apply pressure in a moment. Please tell me if you feel anything.” Before saying anything, he reached down and pinched the big toe of each foot tightly. Looking at her face he searched for any reaction to what he was doing. Seeing no response, he finally said. “Okay I am about to start. Please tell me if you feel anything.” This time he didn’t touch her feet. “Do you feel anything?”

Daria thought she felt something but couldn’t be sure it was wishful thinking or for real. Deciding to play it safe, she said, “I don’t know. I think I do but I’m not sure.”

Her reply was not surprising. Over the years many of his patients in the same shape as Daria wanted their injuries to be temporary so much that they often felt things that weren’t there trying to convince themselves they were going to be the same as they were before. He knew that if she hadn’t started improving by now it was unlikely she was going to regain the use of her legs. If things didn’t change in a few more days he knew he was going to have a conversation with her that they both would hate. Before he left though, he went ahead and did the other test. “Would you please try moving your toes.”

Standing there in silence, he focused on both feet to see if anything was happening. After some time he heard her ask. 

“Did you see anything?”

Going to the head of the bed he looked at her. “I’m sorry no.” He said. “But don’t be let down. Now that the swelling has gone down more we will run more scans this afternoon. After that I will be better able to determine the amount of damage to your spine. I will see you later then. Okay?”

“Okay Doctor.”

After he left. Daria lay there thinking about what had just happened. Over the past few weeks she feared things might be this way and the longer she went without any feeling in her legs the less confident she became that it would ever return. Before she could start crying Quinn came into the room to spend the day with her. Quickly she pushed the grief back inside and put on her game face.

The scans bore out the truth. Now that things were clearer it became obvious that Daria would no longer have the use of her legs again. Daria listened to the doctors explain that she would remain in the hospital for a while longer and eventually she would be moved to a rehabilitation center where she would learn how to adapt to her new life. It wasn’t the news she wanted to hear but it wasn’t completely a surprise either. Soon all the staff left, leaving the foursome alone to think about what they had just learned. While Jake, Helen, and Quinn were all upset, Daria remained calm waiting for all of them to leave. Afraid she would try something; they didn’t leave her alone for days. Eventually though she finally got a night of privacy. Then, like every other night she spent alone, she cried, mourning the collapse of her world.

The months passed. Eventually the casts came off and the wounds healed. As fall approached, the frame that kept her completely immobile was finally removed.

The day that Daria dreaded coming arrived. Tom had come in already to say one more goodbye before leaving for college. Now Jane was saying her goodbyes.

“Don’t fret. I’ll be back for Thanksgiving. And remember, I’ll have a phone so we can talk whenever you want.”

“I guess.” Daria said. “I just wish I was going off too.”

“So do I.” Jane said. Not wanting to get depressed any more than she already was, she changed the subject. “I understand you’re going to be leaving here soon.”

“Yea. Three more weeks.” Pointing to where the frame used to be, she continued,  “It was supposed to have been shortly after the erector set came off but factors have conspired to keep me here a little longer.”

“Like what?” Jane asked.

“My chair isn’t ready for one thing. Plus they haven’t had an opening at the center yet. Until then, it’s a few more weeks here.”

Jane was curious. “Your chair isn’t ready?” Pointing to the one next to the bed, she asked, “You mean that isn’t it?”

“No. That one’s hospital property, thank goodness” Daria said, “I’m getting one custom made for my measurements. It’s supposed to be more comfortable and easier to use. They want me to have it before I leave. Oh yea. On the plus side the delay means I’ll probably get a private room after all.”

“I know you’ll like that. Just curious though, when you get there, how long will you have to stay?”

“Don’t know and nobody will give me an answer. I’m guessing nobody else knows either. I figure that means it will be a while. At least when I get there I’ll have e-mail again, although I understand I’ll have to set up a new account. That means I’ll have a new address.”

“Well when you get it send me the first message.” Jane said. “Have you thought about what your new id will be?”

“Yea. I’m leaning toward Daria Strangelove. It seems pretty appropriate right now.”

Jane laughed. It appeared Daria was recovering some of her sense of humor. She hoped it was real and not just her covering her feelings.

“Well no matter what it is. Just send me the first message.” Looking at her watch, Jane knew she needed to get going. She had a flight in a few hours and needed to get to the airport with plenty of time. Looking at Daria she got serious. “It’s time for me to go. Before I do though I just wanted to say that no matter what happens, you will always be my best friend. If you need anything at anytime just ask. I’ll be here as fast as I can.”

“Thanks Jane. I’ll miss you too.”

Saying nothing, Jane turned to leave for an adventure that Daria could only dream of right then.  

A week after Quinn started her senior year, Daria moved into the rehabilitation center to begin what she sarcastically referred to as “Cripple College.” That first afternoon, as everything was still getting sorted out, a young man looking like a linebacker came in to introduce himself.

“Hello Daria. I’m Fred Rogers. I’ll be helping you while you’re here.”

“Uh hey. Nice to meet you.” Daria said.

Looking next to the bed he noticed the brand new wheelchair.

“Hey nice set of wheels. That’s top of the line. You’ll really have great mobility in that.”

“Nothing’s too good for our daughter.” Jake said.

Smiling at Jake, he said, “As it should be.” then turned his attention back to Daria.

“I can’t stay. I have an appointment. We’ll get to know each other more tomorrow morning when I come to get you for our first session.”

“Our first session? Tomorrow?” Daria asked. “That’s pretty soon. I just got here after all.”

Fred smiled at her.

“You’re here to learn how to function again. The sooner we get started the better off you’ll be. Enjoy your rest tonight because we’re going to keep you busy. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

After being at the hospital where she didn’t have do anything she didn’t want to, this was quite a shock for Daria. She wondered what they had in mind for her. Sitting in the bed watching Jake and Helen put her stuff around, she began to get depressed at the thought that Jane and Tom were off experiencing college while she was going to be learning how to get into the bathtub by herself. It just wasn’t fair and she hated it. Feeling helpless, she leaned back and stared out the window waiting for the day to end so she could be alone again.

The next morning Daria was sending e-mail to both Jane and Tom when Fred came into the room.

“Am I bothering you?” He asked.

Closing the laptop, she slid the bed table off to the side and said, “No. I was sending messages to some friends.”

“Ah. Well playtime is over. It’s time for us to get to work. First lesson. Show me how you get into your chair.”

“Pardon?”

Fred pointed to her chair parked next to the bed. “Show me how you get into your chair.”

“I usually get Mom, Dad, or a nurse to help me.” Daria said.

Fred quickly realized she was going to be a tough case. If she hadn’t even tried to get into her chair alone by now she was probably going to resist everything he had to show her. Crossing his arms, he got tough. “Nobody here will be doing that. It’s time for you to learn how to do things for yourself. Now get into your chair. That’s an order. Once I see you do that, I’ll leave so you can get dressed then we’ll go to the cafeteria for breakfast and talk.”

Daria wanted to say something but fought the urge. Pulling the covers back, she pushed herself up and sat on the edge of the bed. Looking at the chair, she slowly leaned forward to slide into the seat. As she reached across to brace herself she heard Fred say.

“Are the wheels locked? If they’re not you’ll have an unpleasant surprise.”

Checking the chair, she noticed that neither side was locked. “Thanks.” She said and proceeded to set each wheel. After a clumsy launch, she was safely in the seat. Looking at Fred, she asked, “There. Was it all you wanted it to be?”

“It’s a start. You’ll get the hang of it pretty quick. Now get out of your pajamas and into something else. You have ten minutes then I’ll be back to take you for breakfast.”

“That’s not much time.” Daria said.

“It’s plenty of time to put on a shirt and some sweatpants. And that’s factoring in a bathroom visit. You better get moving. You’ve already wasted a minute.”

As Fred left the room, under her breath, Daria muttered, “Jerk.” Closing the door, Fred smiled. He heard her comment. He knew he had her angry. That was a sign that she did have some spirit. All he needed to do was get it turned toward her wanting to get independent again.

While Daria picked at her food, Fred outlined what she would be doing while at the center. For the most part it wasn’t anything Daria didn’t expect. As he explained the routine she nodded while he droned on about exercises and learning how to maneuver her chair through different environments. It was when he mentioned the therapy sessions she got concerned. They never mentioned group or personal counseling at the hospital. If they had she would have been much less willing to come here. What would she have to share with those people? Other than being in the chair they were probably going to have as much in common with her as she had with her classmates at Lawndale High. Realizing it was too late to change things now all she could do was try to stay away from as many of the others here as possible.

After finishing breakfast, the two of them went to the physical therapy room. Being the first day, he took it easy on her. They began with a few exercises to get her upper body stronger then he had her push herself through a maze of obstacles and low inclines. Emerging from the other side he met her.

“You did good. Now turn around and go through again.”

Daria looked up at him.

“How about you do it instead? I’m tired.”

“Well you should have had more breakfast. You’ll quickly learn that you’ll need more energy now to get around.”

Pointing to another patient, Daria asked, “Why can’t I have a motorized chair like that? Then I’d have all the energy I needed and we could all go do something else.”

“You don’t need a chair like that.” He said, “Your arms still work so that’s your motor. Even if you had one you couldn’t go home. You’d still need to learn how to steer it. And believe me, your chair is much easier to handle than that thing is. Now just go back through the course and we’ll call it a day for today. Then you can go back to your room until lunchtime. You’re not scheduled to see the counselor until this afternoon.”

“Then I start those group sessions you mentioned, right?”

“Not yet. You’ll see the counselor a few times before you go into group. It’ll probably be next week. Then you’ll be on your regular schedule. Now that’s enough stalling from you. You’ve had enough rest. Turn around and go through the course again.”

With a scowl on her face, Daria turned around and did what he said.

The weeks passed quickly for Daria. The more time she spent there the more comfortable she became with her abilities. Maneuvering the chair was becoming much easier and the bedpan soon became a thing of the past. She still didn’t like group but, since she felt she had no choice, still attended the sessions. One afternoon she was sitting in her room after group had ended sending another e-mail to Tom. This was another update combined with a query as to why he hadn’t replied recently. He hadn’t replied to anything she had sent since the first week she was there. She figured he was busy studying but still wanted to hear from him and since she didn’t have his phone number yet, e-mail was her only choice. Just as she pressed the send button she heard a familiar voice.

“Hi Daria.”

It was Quinn stopping by for her daily visit and report on the new politics at Lawndale High.

“Hey. So how’s it going?”

“Crazy. You wouldn’t believe how messed up things are now that Sandi’s student body president. I mean we were discussing what to do about the salad bar in the cafeteria when I mentioned…”

Daria zoned her out. She was grateful for Quinn’s company but she could only take so much fashion club drama in a week and she’d had her fill Monday. Seeing a magazine mixed in with her books Daria interrupted her sister.

“Is that my mail?”

“Oh yea. Sorry.”

Quinn handed the small pile to Daria and continued talking. As Daria sifted through it she saw a letter from Tom. Quickly she opened it. After the first line, she knew what the rest of the letter was going to be like but, in spite of her reluctance to continue, finished reading it. Once more she interrupted her sister.

“Quinn?”

“Yes?”

“I forgot that I have an appointment in a few minutes. I won’t be back for a while. Why don’t you go home? You can catch me up later. Okay?”

Quinn could see Daria’s mood had changed. She knew something was up but she also knew Daria wouldn’t say what it was until she was good and ready. Gathering her stuff, she said, “Sure. I’ll call you later… or not. Tell you what. Why don’t you call me if you want to talk.”

Daria said nothing.

“Well, see you later.” Quinn said and left.

Once she was alone, Daria picked up the letter and read each word again.

Dear Daria,

I feel like a coward for doing things this way but I can’t bring myself to talk to you right now.

When I left to come here, I loved you. I still do but things have changed. Not too long after coming here I met someone. She reminds me of you in many ways. She’s smart and funny and likes the simpler things that make our relationship enjoyable. I didn’t want it to happen this way but we have become more serious as time has passed. While I never meant for it to happen I know that things will never be the same for us again. I wish I could be there to be with you but I’m here and will be for a long time. She’s here too and that makes our relationship easier for both of us.

I know you’ll be angry with me and I don’t blame you. I hate myself for doing this but I can’t deny my feeling for her and the reality of our situation. I just hope one day you can forgive my actions and my cowardice.

I really did love you and hope one day you’ll find the right person for you.

Tom

Putting the letter down, Daria sighed. She really wasn’t that surprised. She knew that they wouldn’t be together forever and the distance was a major obstacle. Combine that with all her other problems and she could partially understand why he did it. After all why would he want a cripple whose body was covered with surgical scars when he could have a pretty coed? What she hated was how it had snuck up on her. The lack of response from him should have been a major clue that something was up but she chose to avoid recognizing it. He was right on one thing though. She did hate him right then. He had barely got there and had forgotten her that quickly. She didn’t have that many friends and he had just abandoned her with a letter that was barely half a page long. He really was a coward. Going over to the bed, she got out of her chair and rolled onto her side. Grabbing her legs she pulled her knees up to her chest, grabbed a pillow and covered her head so nobody would hear her.

A knock on the door got Daria’s attention. Putting the book down, she said, “Yes?”

A familiar voice asked, “Daria? May I come in?”

Daria figured she’d get a visit from Dr. Ryan today. “I guess so.” She said.

Opening the door, Dr. Ryan came in. Stopping at the entrance, she saw Daria sitting at the desk. “You missed our session today, and I noticed you weren’t at group either.”

“I missed group yesterday too. You didn’t notice that?”

“Oh I noticed.” Dr. Ryan said. “I just let that one slide. It’s when you miss your private session I get upset.” Going over to where Daria was sitting, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Shaking her head slightly, Daria said, “Nothing’s wrong. I just forgot the time. That’s all.”

Dr. Ryan knew that wasn’t the truth and decided to call Daria on it.

“You haven’t missed a single session, private or group, since you got here. You may not have wanted to show up, and you may not share much, but you’ve always been there. For you to miss, you must have something on your mind. Remember, I’m here to help you. You can tell me anything. And I’m not leaving until I have a good excuse for why you skipped out on me today.”

Sighing, Daria knew she was right. She would pester her until she told the truth. Turning her chair to face Dr. Ryan’s, she began.

“You know I haven’t heard from Tom for a few weeks. Right?”

Dr. Ryan nodded. “Your boyfriend at college. Yes I know.”

Picking up an envelope off the table, Daria said, “I got a letter from him the day before yesterday…”

After telling what she read, Dr Ryan smiled. This was something she could really help Daria deal with. “That’s terrible and I hate it happened to you Daria.” She said. “This will be small comfort but you aren’t the first person to have something like this happen. I’ve had more than one patient tell me almost the same story. It hurts now and it will for a long time but you will recover from this. I did after it happened to me.”

“You got dumped too?”

“Yes. Shortly after I got sick.” Looking at the clock Dr. Ryan said, “I have to get to a session but I want you to come by my office during my free hour tomorrow. We’ll talk more about this then. As for group, take the rest of the week off. We won’t put you on the spot again until Monday. Okay?”

Daria nodded. As Dr. Ryan left the room, Daria said, “Hey.”

Turning around, she looked at Daria.

“Yes?”

“Thanks for coming by.”

Dr. Ryan smiled again.

“You’re welcome. See you tomorrow.”

Alone once more, Daria looked at the envelope for a moment then stuck it in a drawer. Mom would be coming by soon for her daily visit. She should probably tell her what happened too.

The next few weeks were pretty rough for Daria. Her sessions with Dr. Ryan helped her a great deal as did the routine of physical therapy. If she was focused on learning then she didn’t have time to think about losing Tom to someone she would never meet. Slowly she started feeling better and, as Thanksgiving approached, her spirits improved even more as the holiday meant Jane would be coming back for a visit. Seeing her again was something Daria was looking to more than anything else. Trent occasionally came by for a visit but she really missed Jane. Once more, when she least expected it, her life took another sharp turn.

She had just finished her session with Fred and was getting ready to go back to her room to take a shower when she heard a familiar voice near the opposite entrance.

“Aww Man. I don’t want to do that. It’ll hurt.”

Wheeling around, she looked toward where the voice was coming from. Sure enough, there stood Kevin Thompson leaning on a pair of crutches as one of the other physical terrorists tried to force him into walking between two rails. Wondering what he was doing there, she slowly moved closer. Hiding behind an incline, she tried to listen to what the therapist was saying but with all the activity she couldn’t hear anything. Deciding to move in closer to see if that helped she was more focused on where to hide than on where she was going and accidentally bumped into a rack of dumbbells. The noise was enough to draw the attention of the entire room to where she was. One of those who looked up was Kevin. As soon as he saw Daria he did the one thing she hoped she could avoid.

“Hey! I know her!” He shouted. “Hey Daria! It’s me!”

Embarrassed at calling so much attention to herself, and especially from Kevin, she quickly spun around and rushed to her room. Once there, she turned off the light and hid in a corner hoping Kevin wouldn’t be able to find her. “What is he doing here?” She wondered. “Wasn’t he going to some big school in the Midwest on an athletic scholarship?” Of all the people in the world to show up it had to be the one person who she would associate with Brittany the most. And she hated Brittany with all her passion. His presence wasn’t going to make things easier. Having the sense to realize this she picked up the phone and hoped Dr. Ryan wasn’t busy.   

Dr. Ryan sat across from Daria and listened to what she said with interest. She agreed this was a strange turn of events but said it could be also a good thing. It would give Daria a chance to face what happened and perhaps gain some peace. She reminded her that Kevin wasn’t responsible for the accident. He might have been involved with Brittany but he wasn’t with her when it happened. To hold him responsible wasn’t right and she should face the fact that guilt by association was going to just hurt her more than anyone else. Her advice was to face Kevin when she was ready but no to wait too long. Leaving Daria to think about her suggestion, Dr. Ryan gave her a card and said if she needed to talk that evening to give her a call at home.

Daria didn’t call. That night she laid in her bed looking at the shadows the parking lot lights cast on the ceiling thinking about what she should do. Dr. Ryan was right, he wasn’t responsible for putting her there but still, all she could see was him and Brittany walking around holding each other’s hand. As dawn approached, she still hadn’t figured out what to do.

Her dilemma was soon made meaningless. In the cafeteria, she sat pushing the food around her tray trying to sort things out when she heard Kevin from behind her.

“It was you I saw yesterday. What are you doing here Daria?”

As he limped to the other side of the table she just stared at him. Even he couldn’t be that stupid. Once he was parked in his seat, he asked again.

“Well? What are you doing here?”

Her anger at such an idiotic question was growing the more she looked at him. Fighting the urge to say something she might regret later, she paused long enough to cool down some before answering him. Finally she said, “Recovering from a run-in with your late girlfriend. Remember?” Before he could answer she spun around and rolled away, leaving left him sitting alone. Heading back to her room, she knew she would have something to share during her private session that afternoon.

Back in the cafeteria, Kevin sat there thinking about how stupid he was. He always seemed to say the wrong thing. All he wanted to know was how she was doing but he one again put his foot in his mouth. Bothered by how he had upset the first familiar face he had seen there it took him almost five minutes to finish his meal. Going to the exercise room, he hoped he’d see Daria so he could apologize for what he’d said.

For days Daria managed to successfully avoid any contact with Kevin but in a place that small something like that can only be done for just so long. One morning Daria was in the therapy room working alone when Kevin cornered her. Seeing no avenue of escape, she thought about Dr. Ryan’s advice before speaking.

“Yes? What do you want?”

Leaning on his crutches, he said nothing. Daria saw his face was turning red. It quickly became obvious he was as uncomfortable as her right then. Just as she was going to excuse herself he finally spoke.

“I. I just wanted to say…To say I’m like really sorry.”

“For what Kevin?”

“Everything I guess. Making you mad the other day, the accident, everything.”

“It’s okay Kevin. It’s not your fault. I just saw you and it brought up feelings I didn’t want to face right now. I’m sorry if I’ve been rude. I hope you understand that these past months haven’t been very good for me.”

“Yea I guess so.” Kevin said. “Past months? How long have you been here?”

That was about all Daria could take of him right then. Rolling forward slightly she said, “I’ve been here a few months. Just after I got out of the hospital.  Look Kevin. I have to see someone.” She lied. “I need to go.”

Moving out of her way, he said, “Oh yea. Sure. I guess I’ll see you later then huh?”

Not looking at him as she made her escape, she said, “Probably. This place isn’t that big.”

Going to her room, she sat there wondering if he was going to be there very long and if all their meetings would be that awkward.

That evening she sat at her regular table in the cafeteria when once more Kevin, encouraged by his earlier encounter, came over to her.

“Hey uh Daria. All the other tables are filled. Mind if I sit with you?”

Sighing, Daria figured there was no way to fight his presence. She figured the best thing to do is just put up with him and hope he would find a cute volunteer to hit on in a day or two. Until then she’d just put up with him.

“I guess so.”

Sitting down, he leaned his crutches against the edge of the table. The moment he let go of them they slid down and hit the floor with enough noise to draw attention to where he was. Personally he didn’t care but looking across the table he saw Daria’s face was red. It was the second time he had brought unwanted attention to her in less than a week. Giving her that smile that seemed to work on everyone he ever knew he said, “Sorry.” Much to his amazement it didn’t work on her. Guessing he had said the wrong thing, he tried to cover himself. “I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Whatever.” Daria said.

Watching Kevin shovel food into his mouth brought back Lawndale High cafeteria memories to Daria. Sitting there she felt she should do something to slow him down before he choked on a roll. She was in no condition to do the Heimlich maneuver.

“So why are you here?” She asked. “I thought you were playing for some big school in the prairie lands.”

“I was supposed to but never did.” He said. “I mean, I was practicing but I never got to play. One day at practice I got hit and screwed my knee up. I’m here to recover.”

“Then it’s back to the stadium for you the I guess.”

Kevin put his fork down. He suddenly didn’t feel like eating anymore.

“Not really. My playing days are over now.”

“Well you still have a scholarship don’t you?”

Shaking his head, he said, “Not anymore. I lost my eligibility when I got hurt. It seems if you can’t play anymore you’re responsible for your own grades. You know I’m not smart enough to do that. You reminded me of that enough in high school.”

She suddenly felt pity for Kevin. Like her, all his plans were suddenly blown out of the water. The only difference was his injury wasn’t going to keep him here very long. He would be able to go out and do something with his life while she was still rolling though the hallways of this place.

“I’m sorry to hear that Kevin.” She paused. “I really am. So how long will you be here?”

“About three weeks. Dad says it’s all the insurance will pay for. After that I’ll need to get a job or go back to school but like I said that’s not really something I can do so I guess it’s work somewhere. Do you know of any service stations hiring right now?”

“Not really. I’ve sort of quit reading the want ads lately.”

“Oh. Well if you hear of anything let me know okay?” Just then he got a panicked look on his face. “What time is it?”

Looking at the clock on the wall behind him, Daria said, “Five twenty four. Why?”

“Sports Center is supposed to do a feature on my old team in six minutes.” Grabbing his crutches, he asked, “Uh I really need to get going. Would you return my tray? I’ll take yours tomorrow. I promise.”

“Uh. I guess.”

“Thanks.” He said. After he was gone Daria leaned her head back and looked at the stained ceiling tile above where she sat and wondered, “Of all the people to come here, why him?”

The next two weeks went easier than Daria had expected. Although Kevin’s constant presence got annoying at times, the more she was around him the more she began to like having a familiar face nearby. She even began to start seeing him separate from Brittany. In fact, the longer she was around him the more she started to see his sweet, but still quite goofy appeal. It wasn’t the friendship she expected to have but she was growing closer to him. Despite beginning to really like him she wondered if the appeal was merely because she had nobody else there from her past she could be a friend with.

Finally the day Daria was looking forward to came. Jane stuck her head in the doorway and said, “Hey stranger.”

For the first time in months Daria’s smile wasn’t forced.

“Hey Jane. Come in.”

Sitting down, Jane looked at Daria and smiled. “You look good.” She said. “You really do look good.”

“Thanks.” Daria said. Not really comfortable with how the conversation started she changed the subject. “So how’s college?”

“Pretty much the same as high school. The biggest exceptions being that the jocks are bigger idiots and there seems to be a coffee bar in every building. Other than that it’s just classes and lots of pizza.” Not giving Daria a chance to reply, she decided to ease her mind some more. “So how are you really doing? I mean since you got the letter and all.”

“Better.” Daria said. “I’m still mad at him but the therapy seems to be helping there. Other than that things are going as well as they can I guess. The only real roadblock was Kevin but even that’s okay now.”

“Yea. I couldn’t believe it when you told me he was here. That must have been a fun day for you. So where is he right now?”

“At his parents house. He got to go home the other day but he’s come back to see me once already. He’s being really nice to me.” 

“So why aren’t you at home right now? You look like you’re well enough for a short visit to Casa Morgendorffer.”

“What? And pass up the chance to enjoy turkey roll and canned cranberry sauce? Nothing says Thanksgiving more than segmented trays.” Once more, not wanting to admit she was scared to leave the safe confines of the center, Daria changed the subject. “So how long will you be in town?”

Jane stayed with Daria until late in the night. It was difficult to tell which one missed the other more. She returned every day for the rest of the weekend staying as long as she could. She even ran into Kevin who brought Daria a piece of his mom’s pecan pie. Seeing him with Daria, Jane could tell that he really did care about her. This sweetness was a side of him she didn’t know existed. She silently wondered if it was guilt over his girlfriend being responsible for her being there but finally decided it didn’t matter as long as he treated her friend nice. Because of her ticket, Jane had to leave Saturday evening instead of Sunday to return to college. Reluctantly she said her goodbye and promised she’d be back for Christmas.

Christmas proved to be harder for Daria than she had expected. While she never truly bought into the whole sentimentality of the season she always had a soft spot for certain aspects of it. She liked walking downtown at night when the streets were empty in the crisp cool air looking at the lights and decorations. If anyone had ever called her on it she would have denied it but that and a few other things lifted her mood in spite of the other parts of the holiday that she found to be more than irritating.

What made it bad this year was the fact that she felt guilty. For months everyone she knew, even Quinn, had gone out of their way to do things for her. She wanted to do something to show them that she really did appreciate everything they had done but with no financial means wasn’t able to get them anything. Dr. Ryan assured Daria that she didn’t need to buy them anything. If she wanted to let them how she felt she should just tell them. That was good advice but it was obvious to Daria that even after months of private sessions, Dr. Ryan didn’t know her as well as she thought. As Christmas day approached, Jake, Helen, Quinn, Jane, and Trent all made plans to spend the day in Daria’s room. If she couldn’t go home, they were going to come to her.

Christmas Eve, Daria sat alone in her room. Jane had left a little while earlier and she was now alone. After finding nothing she wanted to watch, Daria turned off the television and sat there in silence wondering what she should do, she wasn’t tired yet. As she sat there thinking, her mind wandered back to what Dr. Ryan had said. Suddenly inspiration struck. Going to the desk, she fired up her laptop and began writing for the first time since her ordeal began. It might not have been a story but what she was doing was with the same feeling as when she would write her normal stuff.

The next day went better than Daria had expected. Everyone showed up earlier than she had figured but she really didn’t mind. She had something for all of them now. Gifts were given, Daria making the greatest haul, and Helen had ordered a catered dinner so they could avoid the cafeteria. It was a quiet, simple day all around. Eventually though it was time for everybody to go home. While they all gathered their stuff up, Daria went around to each of them and handed them an envelope with the request that they wait until they got home to open them and to not mention it again. Curious as to what the envelopes contained, they all reluctantly agreed. An hour later, Helen was the only person to break her promise when she called her daughter. Through the crying she told Daria that it was the greatest gift she had ever received. After that, she kept her promise and never brought up the letter again. 

The new-year came and went. In early February the day finally came when, much to her dismay, Daria was declared ready to go home. All the day before and that morning, Jake and Kevin had packed up her belongings and taken them to Glen Oaks Lane. By the time she was ready to leave the only thing left in her sanctuary was her laptop and a few small bits and pieces. Eventually the time came when it couldn’t be put off any longer. Helen asked Daria if she was ready to go. Nodding, Daria said to go on ahead, she would be out in just a moment. Alone for the first time all day, she surveyed the now bare room and wondered if she was really ready to face the fact that she wasn’t away from home after all. While she was here it was almost as if she was at college. Now she was going back to her old room. She felt like a failure. She knew it wasn’t her fault but it didn’t ease the feeling very much to know that. Slowly, she opened the door, switched off the light, and followed the caravan to the parking lot.

All the way home Helen couldn’t hide her excitement that Daria was finally going to be back with them. Looking at her daughter in the back seat she kept talking.

“We’re so happy Daria. I think you’ll like what we’ve done to the house. The bathrooms and kitchen have been remodeled so they will be easier for you to use and we’ve even had a lift installed on the staircase so you can get to your room by yourself. It’s been a lot of work but it should make things easier for you.”

“I guess.” Daria said. “Is that where Quinn is right now? Taking joy rides?”

Jake took the lead now. “Actually no.” He said, “She said she was getting a surprise ready for you when you got home. It’s why she didn’t come with us.”

“A surprise?” Daria thought. “That could be good or bad.” Suddenly she felt something. In all the activity of the day, she had neglected to take care of a small matter. Now, stuck in the car, she felt the need rise quickly. Concerned at what that could mean, she asked, “Uh Dad. How difficult would it be to get back to the center?”

Looking at her in the rear view mirror, Jake said, “Not that easy Kiddo. The traffic’s pretty crazy right now and we’re only a few blocks from home. Why? Did you forget something?”

“In a sense Dad. It’s okay. How fast can you get home?”

“It’ll only be a few minutes. What’s the emergency? Can’t wait to see your room again?”

“I need to see a room. But not my bedroom.”

“Really? Which one?”

Helen saw the discomfort on Daria’s face and knew what was happening. Leaning over to spare Daria any more embarrassment, she whispered into Jake’s ear. “She needs to use the bathroom.”

Suddenly aware of the crisis he said, “Don’t worry Kiddo. I’ll get you there as quickly as possible. Just try to hold it in. Cross your legs or something.”

From the back seat he heard an irate voice say, “Easier said than done Dad.”

Embarrassed at his faux pax he apologized and floored the car to try to beat nature. Within a few minutes he pulled up in the driveway, Jumping out of the car, he shouted, “Kevin, you get Daria! I’ll get the doors! Follow Me!”

Kevin unbuckled Daria and, with no concern for his still-healing knee, lifted her into his arms. Before she was aware what was happening she was being rushed through the living room.

Still in shock at what was happening, she had only a split second to notice the huge welcome home banner and her sister standing there watching the action with a very confused expression.

“Hey Quinn. Nice banner.”

“Thanks.” Quinn said. “I painted it myself.”

As she vanished down the hallway Daria said, “I’ll take a better look in a moment.”

A second later, Jake opened the door and Kevin gently placed Daria on the commode. Sitting there, Daria stared at them standing in the doorway. Finally, Jake asked, “Is there something else you need Kiddo?”

Nodding, Daria said, “Yes. Some privacy.”

Embarrassed, Jake said, “Oh right. Sorry.” Closing the door, he looked at Kevin. “Let’s go get the rest of the stuff.”

After everyone had calmed down, the celebration officially began. The first order of business was to give Daria a tour of the house. Sure enough things had been changed a great deal. The kitchen and downstairs bath were just the first part. Seeing the lift, Daria thought it was pretty cool. That is until she had to take the first ride. Going up, she sat with her back to the wall watching the steps slip below her feet knowing if she fell she had no real way of stopping herself. She knew she was strapped in but realized it would take a few rides before she would be comfortable doing that. Once upstairs she saw that they had bought a second chair so that she wouldn’t have to worry about getting her other one up there. It wasn’t as fancy as her regular one but it still handled well enough to meet her needs.

The first place Helen showed her upstairs was the bathroom. It has been radically altered. The counter was open underneath now so she could get to the sink easier and the old tub had been replaced with one that featured a detachable wand on the shower and a seat to allow her easier use of it. She had to admit to being impressed. It was definitely nicer than what she had expected. Finally the moment came to go to her room.

Heading down the hallway, she stopped at the door. Sitting there, she wondered what changes they had done in there. She felt certain they had to have redecorated. Taking a deep breath for strength, she turned the knob and went in. Switching on the light, she was shocked at what she saw. Nothing had changed. The room was the same as it was the last time she last saw it. The only difference was the dirty clothes had been picked up. Other than that they hadn’t changed a thing. Moving through the area she inspected everything closely until she was satisfied that her space had not been violated. A few minutes later she went back into the hallway to see a smiling Helen.

Seeing the look on Daria’s face, Helen asked, “What’s the matter Sweetie? You seem surprised.”

“It’s my room.” Daria said, “Out of all the things you changed. You left it alone. Why?”

Helen smiled at her daughter. “That’s a place we wanted to leave alone for you to figure out.” She said. “We know how you feel about your space and figured if you needed anything changed you would tell us. We didn’t want to change the things you care about without your permission.”

Giving a faint smile, Daria said, “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Now. There will be plenty of time for you to get the hang of being home again. Let’s get back to the celebration. Do you need help with the lift?”

Daria shook her head. “Thanks but I’ll have to figure that out on my own. If I need help I’ll call you. Otherwise I’ll be down in a second.”

After Helen had gone, Daria went over, slid into the seat, buckled in, and went to join her family in the living room.

The next morning Quinn knocked on Daria’s door.

“Daria. Mom’s made breakfast. Can you believe it? She said it’s almost ready and you need to get downstairs soon.”

After no reply, Quinn knocked on the door again.

“Daria?”

With still no reply, Quinn became nervous. Slowly she opened the door and stuck her head in to see if everything was okay. Once inside, she saw Daria lying on her stomach in the bed with her left arm hanging down off the side.

“Daria. Are you going to sleep in all day?” She asked. “Didn’t you hear me say that Mom’s made breakfast?”

Sighing, Daria had hoped it would be Helen who found her.

“Yes. I heard you. Could you do me a favor and get Mom?”

Fully entering the room, Quinn asked, “Why? What’s wrong? Do you need help?”

Once more, Daria let out a sigh. This wasn’t going to be easy.

“Yes. Now could you go get Mom?”

This upset Quinn. She wondered if the center had let Daria come home too soon. Was she in pain or was it something else? Before she realized what she was doing she asked, “Is it something I could help you with?” Suddenly a terrible thought came into her head. “This doesn’t involve a bedpan does it?”

Figuring there was no way out now. Daria knew this was her savior today, swallowing her pride she said, “No.”

“Then what it is?”

“The sheets are wrapped around my legs so tight I can’t untangle them. Now could you get Mom up here? She’s done this before. She’ll know what to do.”

Again, Quinn spoke before she knew what she was saying.

“I can help. What do you need me to do?”

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes.” Quinn lied.

“I need you to unwrap the sheets from around my legs. I can do the rest.”

As she walked toward the bed Quinn tried to sound confident.

“That’s it? No problem.”

Looking at the twisted mass in front of her a knot formed in Quinn’s stomach. She wasn’t sure she could do this. What would Daria’s legs feel like? Finally working up her nerve she reached down and started untangling things. Sure enough the sheets had almost bonded to Daria’s legs. Eventually though she finally managed to get the left leg exposed enough she could pull it out. Reluctantly, she took her hand and put it behind the knee. As she pulled it out she was surprised. She had expected the leg to be cold and clammy. Instead it felt like a normal leg. It wasn’t completely normal but it was familiar enough not to be creepy anymore. Once the left leg was free the sheets loosened enough that it was a snap to get the other one out. In short order Quinn stood back where Daria could see her.

“There you go. Both legs are out.” Filled with new confidence, Quinn asked, “Do you want help getting up?”

Rolling on to her side, Daria pushed her legs off the side of the bed and sat up.

“No. I can handle it from here. Could you tell Mom I’ll be down in a few minutes?”

“Uh. Sure.” Quinn said and turned to leave the room. As she got to the door she heard Daria say, “Quinn?”

Quinn turned back to look at her sister sitting there.

“Yes?”

“Thanks. I know that wasn’t easy for you.”

Quinn smiled.

“You’re welcome. Now don’t waste time or Mom will send me back up.”

The months passed slowly. Eventually the school year ended and Quinn graduated. That meant something else for Daria. It meant the return of someone special. One morning she heard a familiar voice.

“Hey again stranger. The prodigal has returned.”

Seeing Jane for the first time in months, Daria couldn’t help but smile. “Hey Jane. It’s good to see you.”

Sitting in the chair next to Daria’s desk, Jane agreed.

“Yea. It’s great to see you too. You’re looking good.”

“You too.” Daria said. “So how long are you going to be here?”

“The whole summer. I’m not going to any retreats this year.”

This really made Daria happy. “That’s great.” She said. “I’ve missed having you around.”

Jane had to interrupt. “I’m sorry to spoil your plans but I won’t be around all the time. I’ve got a job.”

Daria was stunned. “A Job? You? Where? Why?”

Smiling, Jane said, “Yes, a job. At Channel Eight in their graphics department. For money and experience but mostly the money.”

That was unexpected. Of all the things she expected to hear, Jane being employed wasn’t anywhere near the top of the list.

“Congratulations. I guess.” Daria said. “You’ll still be able to hang out from time to time won’t you?”

“Thanks. And I’ll have plenty of free time. I get the weekends and I’ll be home every night.” Deciding this was the best time to do so, Jane said,  “You know. We could hang out more if you wanted.”

“How?” Daria asked.

“They have a job opening right now for a part time Chyron operator.”

Daria had a very large vocabulary but that was a new word even for her.

“A what?”

“It’s the thing they use to put the words on the screen.” Jane said. “It would be perfect for you. You type faster with fewer mistakes than anyone I know. And it’s only four hours a day.”

“Thanks but I’ll pass.” Daria said.

“Why?” Jane asked.

“They probably wouldn’t hire me. I don’t have any experience with that stuff and even if they did it would only be to fill some quota.”

“That’s why it’s part time. It’s an entry-level job. You don’t need experience. And what if they hired you for some quota? You could show them the error of their ways by doing a great job.”

“Nonetheless I’ll pass.”

Jane had finally had enough. Looking Daria in the eyes, she said, “That’s it I quit.”

“Quit what?”

“Feeding your isolation.”

“What do you mean?” Daria asked.

“I mean. You never leave the house.” Jane said. “Trent’s told me ever since you got home he’s tried to get you to come see him play but you refuse. I call and you’re always home. You’ve been out of the center for months and you’ve apparently done nothing but sit around the house in sweatpants and socks, watching TV, and feeling sorry for yourself.”

Daria corrected Jane. “I leave the house. I go to the center two afternoons a week and last Sunday I went to Quinn’s graduation. And as for being alone, Kevin’s here almost every day so I can help him with his homework.”

“Oh yea. That’s the life. Going to therapy and tutoring a junior college student in algebra.” Jane said. “That’s not what I mean Daria. You need to get back to living again. Sure you’ve had a horrible year. One I can’t even begin to imagine, but it’s time to begin returning to the real world. The pity party’s over.” Getting up, she said, “I’m leaving. If you want to talk, call me. If you want to see me, you know where I live.” Saying nothing else, Jane turned and left the room. She hoped she sounded composed. Inside she was a wreck. It was tough love but she knew she had to do something to light a fire under Daria. Nobody else seemed prepared to push her out of her tiny world and back into the land of the living.

For the first two days Daria was furious at Jane. Slowly though the reality of her words sank in. She had holed herself up here. It was safe but it really wasn’t any fun. Most of the time she was alone and even for her the isolation was too much at times. As the weekend approached she thought about how seeing Jane would be nice but remembered her demand. While she wasn’t sure she was ready to leave the secure zone she had built, but she figured she would have to go out sometime. It was just an interview, what harm could it do to talk to the people there? The odds that they would hire her were slim at best and it would at least be a change of scenery. Perhaps later she would work enough nerve to go out longer. Making up her mind, she picked up the phone and dialed. A few rings later someone picked up.

“Hey Trent. Could you get Jane?”

Daria sat there patiently until she heard Jane on the other end.

“Yes?”

“So tell me more about this job.”

The next Wednesday morning, Daria left the bathroom in time to see Quinn rush down the steps. Barely taking the time to say goodbye, her sister was out the door and on her way. This gave Daria a great deal of relief. Usually Quinn stuck around until the afternoon before going out to hang out with the remains of the fashion club before they spread out to points unknown in the fall. Today was different though. The day before, Quinn had received a gift certificate from Aunt Rita as a graduation gift so she was going to be at Cashmans the instant the doors opened. That meant she would be alone to get ready and avoid any explanations.

Going to her room, Daria went to the dresser and took out the outfit she had worn to Quinn’s graduation. Once dressed, she went to the closet and got out the box. Opening the lid, she removed the boots. Looking at them for a second she thought about when Quinn gave them to her last year as her graduation gift. Quinn said if she was going to be going away to her new life she should have a new look to match her surroundings and the old boots had to go. They did go, but not in they way anyone expected or wanted.

Leaning over, she lifted each foot and placed them in the boots. Zipping them up, she began to ponder the fate of her old pair. Once she was finally awake again she asked several people at the hospital where they were but nobody knew. The best guess anyone had was that they were so damaged they got thrown out. While she accepted that was probably the most likely explanation she still wished she had them. At that time they were as much a part of her as her chair was now. Still these boots were nice even if she wouldn’t have bought them for herself.

Now that she was dressed she went to the other matter. Going to the mirror she got out her brush and started on her hair. It soon became obvious she had let things go for too long. Suddenly she wished Quinn was there. She had a knack for fixing hair emergencies. Since that wasn’t an option she took the only solution available. Getting out a band, she pulled the mass into a ponytail. It wasn’t glamorous but it looked okay. Finally she had one more decision to make.

Looking into the mirror again she stared at her pale complexion. Staying inside for so long had pretty much removed any color in her face. Pulling out the drawer further, she reached into the back until she found her tiny secret stash of cosmetics. Spreading them out in front of her she had several questions. Should she use any of it? More importantly, could she use any of it? After all she wasn’t every really big into that stuff and, in her zeal to get color, her inexperience could easily make her overdo it. Add to that, some of this stuff was over to two years old. She wasn’t sure what kind of shelf life makeup had. After much thought, she decided to play it safe. They were going to see her as she really was, pallor and all. The only exception would be her lips. Taking the lightest shade she had, she carefully applied some then placed the tube in her pack. After putting everything away she went to Quinn’s room.

Stopping in front of the full-length mirrors, she swiveled back and forth checking things out. Adjusting the skirt so it fell over the top of the tall boots, Daria was finally confident nobody could see her legs. Assured of that fact she went to the stairs, rode the lift down, got in her good chair and went to the kitchen to get something to drink while she waited for Jane.

Helen was more than upset with herself. In her rush to get to her meeting, she left one of the most vital files in the bedroom. Since it would be impossible to tell anyone else where it was and because she also wanted to check on Daria, she decided to get it herself. Opening the door from the garage, she was stunned to see her daughter sitting at the table dressed up. For a moment she was speechless at the sight but eventually worked up the words she wanted to say.

“Daria! You look wonderful!” Taking a moment to absorb the sight again, she asked, “Why?”

Caught unaware by this turn of events Daria simply told the truth.

“I have an interview.”

“Interview?” Helen asked. “What kind of interview?”

“For a job.”

Helen was more than stunned. Going to the table, she sat across for her daughter and just stared at her for a minute. Eventually she asked.  “What’re you saying?”

Slowly, Daria began telling Helen about how she had heard about a part time position at a television station. Explaining that cabin fever was beginning to take its toll on even her she said she decided to take a chance and talk to them. While she provided as much detail as she could, Daria took care not to mention Jane’s involvement in this other than to say that she was going to provide transportation to and from the interview. She didn’t want to get Jane blamed if Helen was against the idea. Once she was finished she looked at her mom waiting for the inevitable questions, which quickly came.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Helen asked.

Daria nodded. “Yes. It’s time for me to start rebuilding my life.”

“But this is quite a step. Even if it is just part time, are you sure you’re ready for a job?”

“I don’t know. But this isn’t a job. It’s an interview. I probably won’t get it anyway. I have no idea of what they do or any experience with that kind of stuff. I just felt it couldn’t do any harm to talk to them. It will be good experience for when I do have an interview for a real job later.”

Once more, Helen asked, “You’re sure you’re ready for this?”

“Like I said. I’m not sure. But it’s a first step, so to speak, in the direction. Dr. Ryan said I’d have to go out eventually.”

“Dr. Ryan had something to do with this?” Helen asked. “She said you should try this?”

“I did talk to her about this earlier this week but she said I would have to make the decision. Other than what to wear if I went ahead, she didn’t offer any suggestions.”

Reaching over, Helen took Daria’s hands in hers.

“Sweetie, I know you’re going to have to start living life outside this house sometime but I…” Correcting herself, she said, “We don’t want you to move too fast. If you feel you’re ready for this, we’ll support you all we can. Just remember we’re also here if you decide do back out. It’s your choice.”

“Thanks Mom. I want to do this. I’ll admit that I’m scared but it’ll be over soon and I’ll be back before it’s late. We can move on from there.”

Smiling, Helen was undeniably proud of Daria right then. Suddenly, she was distracted by the clock, quickly standing up she said, “The time! My file!” Rushing up the stairs she came down a minute later with a folder in her hands. Stopping at the table, she hugged Daria’s shoulders.

“If I don’t leave now I’ll be late for my meeting. Good luck Sweetie. Give me a call when you get back. I want a report on how things went.”

Before Daria could say anything else, Helen was in the garage and driving away. Once more alone, she slowly let the doubts about whether she was doing the right thing sneak back into her brain.

Not too much later Jane came by and picked her up. On the way to the station, Jane gave Daria some information about the people she would be talking to. She also added a few pointers about the lingo they used at the station so she would have at least a vague idea what they were referring to. A short ride later the pair pulled into the parking lot of Channel Eight. Once out of the car, they went to the lobby. Soon, a man came out and escorted Daria to his office while Jane went off to her department.

Once in the office he formally introduced himself as Rex Miller, the production manger, and explained that he was in charge of deciding who would fill the position. With introductions out of the way he and Daria discussed many things, what the job actually was, how many hours it would be each week, and what they were looking for in the successful candidate. Things were going well. To Daria he seemed nice. His manner made her quite comfortable until the moment he asked her why she wanted the job. This was the moment she dreaded. She really didn’t have any answer she thought was appropriate. Slowly she started talking about how her plans had been thrown out the window and she was looking for a way to get her life back on track. She thought this might be the way to start. After her explanation, she looked at his face to see what his reaction would be. Unable to tell anything, she waited for him to speak.

“Well Daria. You sound like a good candidate. How about we go to part two now. On the way I’ll give you a little tour of the place. Show you what we actually do here.”

Following him, Daria was very impressed. This place was nice. The halls were wide, they had an elevator, and there were ramps all over the place. The best part was that almost nobody gave her more than a second look. It was as if she wasn’t a freak after all. She was just someone roaming the halls. Soon they were at their destination. The sign on the door said, “Editing Suite B”. Going inside, Daria saw panels of switches and monitors. Standing next to a small keyboard, Rex motioned for Daria to come over. Pointing at the panel, he said, “Daria, this is a Chyron. It’s what you will use if we hire you. What I want to see is how easy you can learn how it works.”

Flipping a switch, Rex turned on a large monitor. After a brief demonstration, he had Daria enter some copy. As she typed everything in she was surprised. The machine worked very much like her word processor at home. There were a few differences but for the most part it was very close. Once she entered the copy, he showed her how to make the machine do different things like scroll across the bottom of the screen and roll like they do at the end of a show. Copying what he did, Daria’s confidence grew. This might be a pretty cool job after all. At least it looked like something she could do. Slowly she began to hope she would get the position.

A few more tests later, the interview ended and Jane took Daria back home. Other than some small talk about how things went, neither really spoke about the interview. Each in their own way didn’t want to jinx it so they just talked about what to do Friday after Jane got home. Back at Glen Oaks Lane, Jane stuck around long enough to eat lunch with Daria then excused herself so she could return to work. She had only taken enough time to help get Daria to the station for her interview. She was still on the clock. Once she was gone, Daria went upstairs, changed back into her sweatpants then called her mom to tell her how things went. 

Days passed with no word from the station. A week later, since Rex said he’d make his decision quick, Daria pretty much figured she hadn’t got the job. In spite of putting on a brave front, Helen could see the disappointment in her daughter’s face and wished she could take the hurt away. Sitting in the living room with her watching television, she heard the phone ring. Before she could answer it, she heard Quinn shout from upstairs 

“That’s for me!”

A moment later she shouted downstairs again.

“Daria! It’s for you!”

Answering the phone, Daria said, “Hello?”

“Hey Daria. It’s Rex. From the station? How are you doing?”

“Fine. And you?”

“Pretty good. Look. I won’t take too much of your time. I just wanted to say I was very impressed with how fast you picked up on what I showed you last week. I made my decision a little while ago that I want to offer you the job. Are you still interested?”

This was a surprise. There she was thinking that she had lost this chance and suddenly it had come back to her. Stunned for a moment, it took Rex’s voice to bring her back around.

“Daria? Are you still there?”

“Oh yea. Sorry.” Wanting to be sure she heard right, she asked, “You mean you want me to work there?”

“Yes I do. I think you’re who we’ve been looking for. Do you want the job?”

“Um. Sure. When should I start?”

“Tell you what. Why don’t you come in on Monday? That’ll give you a few days to get everything ready. How about you come in around nine? We’ll get you on regular hours Tuesday.”

“Sure. And thanks.”

“My pleasure Daria. See you then. Bye.”

After Daria hung up the phone, Helen waited for her to say something. Daria, however, said nothing. She was still letting the whole conversation sink in. She had a job. What now? Outside of a few bits and pieces, her wardrobe was all t-shirts and sweats. It also meant she would have to get up at a regular time now. Not just when she felt like it. Sure enough, it was happening. Good news came and she was worrying herself into not being able to enjoy it. Soon, Helen had enough and had to ask.

“Well what did he say?”

Daria looked at her Mom and said, “I got the job.”

“So are you ready for this? I mean really ready.”

“I don’t know Mom. I guess I’m about to find out though. After all what’s the worst that can happen? I’ll fail miserably, they’ll fire me, and I’ll spend the next three years in Dr. Ryan’s office trying to figure out where I went wrong. Other than that it should be a good experience.”

This was one of those moments Helen hated. Most of the time she could tell when Daria was joking around but there were rare moments, usually very stressful times, when it was difficult to determine what she was thinking. Taking a chance, she decided to go for broke.

“As long as you go into this with the right attitude Sweetie.”

“Don’t worry Mom. I’ll decide which one to have before I go in. The only big question now is do I bum a ride off you and Dad or Jane.”

“Don’t worry about that.” She said. “We’ll see you get there on time.”

Oddly enough, Jake, who had no idea this was happening, was beyond thrilled when he learned about her job. Secretly he hated the fact that she had shut herself in. This meant that she was going to be getting out into the world. It also meant that he wouldn’t worry about her being alone in the house all day. He assured her that if she needed him to take her to work, all she had to do was ask. He was behind her all the way.

Quinn even provided her support. That weekend, at Daria’s request, they went shopping. Although Quinn figured the mall would have a better choice of clothes Daria might like, she accepted Daria’s explanation she wasn’t ready to face that yet and they went to an outlet store outside the city limits. Spending little more than an hour there, she helped Daria pick out a wardrobe that would serve her well until she could get back at Thanksgiving to help her update it. It wasn’t until they were checking out that Quinn noticed Daria had mostly selected pants. Until then, Daria had hardly worn pants. Now it seemed that’s all she wanted to wear. Chalking up to wanting a new look, she let her questions go unasked and suggested they get a burger on the way home. To her surprise, Daria agreed. Providing they used the drive through.

Kevin was also in favor of the idea. The only thing he wanted was for her to stick his name on the screen sometime during the news. He was a little let down when Daria explained doing something like that would be a good way to get fired but still offered his support. His only concern was whether it would affect their study sessions. She was the only reason he was passing and didn’t want to screw things up with school now. After assurances that she would still have plenty of time to help him, he was even more behind her new job. 

Her anticipation grew as the day approached. Finally, Monday arrived and she got ready to go in. Everyone in the house did all they could to make sure she got there on time. In fact, they were all so helpful that she was running late. At last she had everything together and was ready to go. Looking at her parents she asked which one was going to drop her off. To her shock she learned they all were going with her, even Quinn. Sighing, she shook her head. It was her first day of school all over.

All the way to the station, Jake and Helen offered words of advice and encouragement to Daria. Nodding politely, she pretended to listen while silently hoping they wouldn’t follow her in. Once there she told them to stay in the car. Quickly, she put her chair together and got out. Going up to the passenger window, she told Helen that Jane said she’d drive her home during her lunch break and start picking her up tomorrow. Helen asked her to call her when she got home and let her know how the day went. After promising that she would, Daria happily watched as the sedan pulled away leaving her alone. Going to the door, she went inside and began her new job.

The first day wasn’t much to talk about. For the most part she filled out paperwork, talked with the HR manager, and observed others working. It wasn’t until the next day things really got going. At first she just did small tasks but, because she picked up on things quick, in a few days she was pretty much doing everything they had listed in her job description. She had to admit, it was a good deal. The people she worked with were, for the most part, likeable and very patient while she was starting out. Before too long it got to where she looked forward to going to work. Even though she and Jane didn’t really see much of each other while there, she was grateful that she always had a ride home or to the center after her day was done.

Eventually the honeymoon ended. One day Daria really made a major mistake. The problem with making a mistake on live television is everyone sees it and you can’t go back to fix it. After the noon show ended, Rex asked Daria into his office and seriously discussed the incident. While subsequent reprimands wouldn’t be received the same way, Daria was actually happy to get this first chewing out. To her it meant that Rex viewed her as an employee rather than a token. It showed that she really was taken seriously. That made her like the job and her associates even more. She wasn’t the handicapped employee she was Daria, the Chyron operator.

The time passed easily for Daria now. Slowly but surely she was gaining confidence and beginning to build a life for herself. With more of Jane’s encouragement she even went a few times to see Trent play. It wasn’t much, but from the dark corner of the club, she sat and enjoyed the sets. Trent even kept his promise to not dedicate any songs to her. That level of public attention was still a bit much for her. Still it was a move in the right direction. 

Summer quickly came to an end. Two weeks before she was to return to college, Jane quit so she would have a little vacation before classes resumed. Around the Morgendorffer house, Daria even became second place while Jake and Helen fretted over Quinn’s impending departure for academia and that suited her just fine. It meant she and Jane could hang out in peace with no parents bothering them.

The movie had ended and Jane pressed the rewind on the remote. Waiting for the tape to finish so she could load the other one, Daria picked up the conversation.

“I have to say. I’ll miss you giving me rides after work.  It was nice having a personal chauffer this summer.”

“Nice for you.” Jane said. “You were going home. I was eating up my lunch hour carting you all over town. But yea, I’ll miss it too. So who’s running the afternoon limo service after I leave?”

“Kevin.” Daria said, “He’s scheduled his classes so they end in time for him to pick me up. Since I’m not going to the center that often anymore, he’ll bring me here for his study sessions.”

An evil grin spread across Jane’s face. It was time to have some fun.

“Is that what they’re calling it now? Studying?”

Daria glared at Jane with and intensity that should have melted her hair. Angrily, she said, “Listen Lane. If you think that Kevin and I are…”

 Raising her hand, she interrupted Daria’s pending tirade. “One sec. Time to swap tapes.”

While Jane took care of the VCR, Daria cooled down. She knew Jane was pushing her buttons. It’s a good thing she didn’t know what was really happening during many of those study sessions. She really would be shocked. Daria realized if she replied in anger she might actually reveal the truth. Deciding to avoid that possible outcome, she figured it was time to ask the big question. Dr. Ryan said if she wanted to know, she would have to ask. Time was quickly running out and this wasn’t something to do over the phone. Once Jane was back in the chair, she began to press the start button. Before she could, Daria finally got up the nerve.

“Hold up Jane. Don’t start the movie yet.”

“Okay. But why?”

“I need to ask you something. I’ve been putting it off for weeks but I can’t wait anymore.”

“What is it?”  

Sliding off the bed and into her chair, she rolled over next to Jane. Looking her in the eyes, she said, “Tell me what happened that night.” 

Soon Jane and Quinn left for their lives away from Lawndale leaving Daria alone in the house with her parents. Unlike the previous year though things went much better. Her job took on a new importance to her. When she was there working she didn’t have time to think about her friends and family off experiencing academia. This isn’t to say she didn’t enjoy her job. She loved it and she was very good at it. She just wondered if it was all she would ever have.

Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went with visits from the returning students. Soon, spring break was here. Jane went off for a vacation with a guy she had met earlier in the year but Quinn came home. It turned out she really didn’t like college parties that much and merely wanted to spend the week in the quiet comfort of Lawndale. Her first day back she and Daria were in the mall. Daria had asked her for a ride and, since she had missed spending time with her, Quinn gladly agreed. As they went through the corridors the conversation remained light.

“So what are you getting Kevin for his birthday?” Quinn asked.

“He dropped several not so subtle hints about a certain jersey he likes so that’s definitely on the list but I also want to get him a DVD with that martial arts guy he likes.”

Stopping, Quinn looked at her. “That’s cool. But didn’t you say he has a pile of them already? How do you know you won’t get a duplicate?”

“I made a list the last time I was at his apartment. I had plenty of time. He takes forever in the shower.”

Pointing across the balcony, Quinn said, “There’s the movie place. Have you got the list? We can get that now then go to the sporting goods store. After that I want to go to Cashmans. I need to get some new lipstick and they’re the only place in town that carries my shade.”

Reaching behind her to get her pack, Daria said, “Okay. One sec.” As she tried to open it the zipper stuck again. Giving it a tug to free it, she lost her grip and all the contents spilled onto the floor in front of her. Angry at what she had done, her sole response was, “Dammit!”

Quinn was quick to act. “Don’t sweat it,” she said, “I’ll get it.” Kneeling down, she proceeded to gather everything and hand it to her sister. At first she got the smaller items, Daria’s keys, a spare set of disposable contacts, her makeup, the usual things. Soon though she picked up the folder Daria carried. As she handed it to Daria a pile of brochures fell out. Picking them up to put them back inside, she couldn’t help but notice what they were about.

“What are you doing with car brochures? Are these Kevin’s?”

Daria shook her head. “No. They’re mine.” She said. “I’m buying a car.”

“For Mom and Dad because they drive you around? That’s nice. But how can you afford it? You don’t make that much.”

“No Quinn. It’s for me. But it is for Mom and Dad in a way. Now that I’m working more hours it’s not easy for them to keep carting me around. I go in so early that they have to get up way ahead of when they used to. This way I can get myself to and from work as well as go other places on my own.”

“But how can you do it? I mean, how do you operate the pedals?”

“It’s going to be modified so all the controls are on the steering column.” Daria said. “I’ve been taking lessons for months. I’m going in for my final test next week.”

Quinn was very impressed. “That’s so cool. When I get back for summer vacation I want you to take me shopping for a change.”

“That can be arranged.” Daria said.

Remembering that Daria hadn’t answered all her questions, Quinn asked, “Like I said. You don’t make that much at the station and this has to be expensive. How can you afford this?”

“I’m using part of the settlement to buy it. I make enough that I can pay for the upkeep without tapping the well for that. And you’re right it wasn’t cheap.”

That last comment made Quinn even more curious. “It wasn’t cheap?”

Nodding, Daria said, “Yea. I ordered it two weeks ago. It should be finished by the time I get my license.”

“That’s great! What did you get?”

Taking a brochure. Daria pointed to a mid-size sedan. “This one.”

Quinn examined the picture. “It’s nice. What color did you get?”

“Black.”

Smiling, Quinn shook her head.

“I should have known.” She said. Giving the booklet back to Daria, she refocused her attention on the task at hand. “Find your list and let’s get Kevin’s stuff. We only have so many hours before Mom and Dad want us back.”

Kevin loved his presents. It turned out he had dropped the hint about the jersey to several people so he had quite a few of them but only Daria added the extra touch of giving him a DVD too. Her birthday was months away but he wanted to get started early saving up for her gift. He wanted her to know she was special to him too.

The day finally came. Kevin kept his plans for what he had in mind for her secret to all but a few people. Picking her up, he took her to Chez Pierre for dinner. Knowing she wasn’t into the cornball stuff of celebrating, he kept things low key. After they finished the meal, he gave her his gift. Seeing the tiny box, she figured it was probably a pair of earrings. Much to her surprise, the box contained a diamond ring. That was as much a shock to her system as the day she woke up in the hospital. She never expected anyone would ever want her in that way. Unaware of the impact it truly had on her, Kevin had to ask the question multiple times before she heard him. Still in shock, she couldn’t answer. She had to think about it. He said he wanted her but did she want him? All she would say was that she needed to think about it. Taking it in stride, Kevin took Daria back home so she could consider things. 

That night she said nothing to anyone. Soon though, others found out. Almost everybody was happy for her but she still wasn’t convinced. For weeks she sat alone late into the night trying to decide what to do. Oddly enough she got her answer one night when she heard Jake and Helen arguing in the kitchen. Once more, Jake had ruined some cookware and Helen was giving him a verbal dressing down. Thinking about how they were so different but still together and still in love, she made up her mind. Calling Kevin, she asked him to come over. When he got there she barely gave him time to come in before she agreed to be his wife.

The wedding took a while in coming. The biggest delay was having to wait for both her bridesmaids to be home at the same time. After the honeymoon, Daria settled into a new life away from her parents and the home she had known for so long. It was more than a little scary but soon discovered that she loved married life, arguments and all. One weekend afternoon, Daria was at Glen Oaks Lane visiting with her Mom. As they sat there in the living room, Helen asked, “So what are you two doing for your second anniversary?”

“Not much.” Daria said. “Just a simple dinner. We’ve been staying in more lately.”

“Really? Any reason?”

This was the time to tell her. She had come over for this very reason. Taking a deep breath, she proceeded to relay the news, knowing the response would be rough.

“Yes. Kevin and I are trying to have a baby.”

Helen almost dropped her glass. “You’re what!?” She asked.

“A baby Mom. We’re trying to have a baby.”

This filled Helen with concern. “Is that possible?”

Nodding, Daria said, “Yes. Everything will be fine. We’ve talked to several doctors and they all said as long as I have frequent checkups and take care of myself, there should be no problem.”

“But what about your pelvis? Can it handle that? I mean it’s not that strong.”

“I’ll have to have a section. But that’s a small price to pay.”

Sliding to the end of the sofa, Helen took Daria’s hand and said, “But it sounds so dangerous. Couldn’t you just adopt? It would be safer and I know you would love the child just as much.”

“We’ve looked into adoption Mom. It would be very difficult. There’s a prejudice against handicapped women. Most agencies feel I wouldn’t be capable parent. It’s not fair and we could probably pull it off eventually but the frustrations would be unbearable. It will be easier and faster this way.” Seeing her words weren’t calming her mom, Daria continued, “Don’t worry, it’s safe. Many women in this position have had babies. I’ll be under constant care and it’s a one-time deal. We just want a family and this is our best chance.”

Helen shook her head. “I don’t know.” She said. “It still sounds dangerous. I just don’t know what to say.”

Daria put her other hand over Helen’s and rubbed it lightly.

“How about good luck?”

Looking her daughter in the eyes, Helen said, “Good luck Sweetie.”

It took a while but Daria eventually got pregnant. Things weren’t easy and there were a number of close calls but, because she did what the doctors said, nine months later, she and Kevin welcomed their daughter into the world. Much to everyone’s surprise, including Daria’s, less than a year later she learned they were going to have one more addition to the household. This time things were more difficult. She almost lost the child early on but once more the family welcomed another little girl into their fold. After this one though both Daria and Kevin took steps to insure the family stopped there.

The years passed very happily for Daria. While she still loved her job, she also reveled in her roll as mom. Things were going great.

One afternoon she was sitting at the kitchen table coloring with daughter number two. As they sat working on their pictures, the little girl looked up.

“Mommy?”

“Yes Vicky?”

“Why can’t we have a two story house?”

Not looking up from her work, Daria said, “Because I don’t have to deal with stairs here.”

“But if we had a two story house you could get one of those elevators like Grandpa and Grandma have.”

This got Daria’s attention. Looking up, she asked Vicky, “Have you been playing on the lift again? That’s not a toy you know.”

Vicky put on her innocent face.

“But they don’t mind me riding it.”

“Yea. But neither of them has ever been trapped for hours three feet from the top of the stairs while strapped to a milk crate. No playing on the lift from now on. Okay?”

“Yes Maam.”

Seeing that her daughter was properly reprimanded, she decided to let her off the hook. Looking across the table, she saw the drawing Vicky had been working on.

“So how’s your picture coming along?”

“It’s done. Wanna see?”

“Sure.”

Vicky slid her paper across the table. Picking it up, Daria looked at it. Turning it all directions to get the full impact, she finally had to ask, “It’s very nice. What is it?”

“It’s your car.” Pointing at the bottom she said,  “See. There’s the dent where Daddy’s door hit yours.”

Daria smiled and nodded. “Ah yes. I see it now. It’s very good. Your aunt Jane would be proud of your artistry.” Putting the picture down, she looked around for a moment. “Speaking of that. Where’s your sister?”

Vicky shrugged.

“I don’t know, probably her room. She hardly ever leaves it.”

“Well could you get her for me?”

“Sure.” Getting up, Vicky went to the hallway entrance and yelled, “JANE! COME INTO THE KITCHEN! MOM WANTS YOU!”

Going back to her seat, Vicky said, “There you go.”

“That’s not what I meant young lady and you know it. Now get up and go to you sister’s room and…”

She never got to finish. Just then Jane came in to where they were.

“Yes Mom.”

Turning to look at her oldest child, Daria asked, “Did you get the mail today? It’s your turn.”

“Yes Maam.”

“Well where is it?”

Jane pointed into the living room.

“It’s on the coffee table. Where I always put it.”

“Well could you bring it here?” Daria asked.

“Sure.” Jane said and vanished. A few seconds later she was back with a small pile of books and envelopes. Giving it to Daria she said, “Here you are.”

Taking everything, Daria said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now can I go back to my room?”

“Of course Dear.”

Jane left. Vicky continued coloring while Daria began the task of sorting through the stack. For the most part it was the usual assortment of catalogs and junk mail mixed with a nice selection of bills. There was one interesting looking letter though. The return address said, “J. Landon and Associates.” That was a name she hadn’t heard in years. Not sure what she held, it took a moment for her to work up the nerve to open it.

Slowly she sliced the top of the envelope until she could remove the contents. Taking out the pages, she unfolded them and read silently.

Dear Lawndale High Alumni,

Has it really been ten years?

That evening, Daria went into the living room. Kevin was on the couch watching a basketball game. Going over to where he sat, she slid up next to him and leaned on his shoulder. Waiting until a commercial was on he finally asked, “So the are girls finally in bed?”

“Yea. They put up less of a fight tonight. They’ve been behaving all day actually. I think they want something.”

Putting his arm around Daria, he said, “Don’t worry. I’ll check on them later.”

“No Way.” Daria said. “Not tonight anyway. They have you wrapped around their little fingers so tight that if you do see them you’ll say yes before they even tell you what it is.”

Kevin’s only reply was, “But…”

“No buts about it. Until we find out what we want you stay out of their rooms.”

Knowing she was right, he said, “Yes Maam.”

Before the game came back on, Daria figured she should bring up the subject of the letter.

“Would you cut the TV off for a moment? I need to talk to you about something.”

“Aww Daria. I’ll miss the game.”

“Just for a minute.” She said. “This won’t take long.”

Relenting, he pressed the button and sat where he could see her better.

“So what’s up?”

“We got a letter today.”

“Cool.” Kevin said. “About what?”

“Our ten year high school reunion. It’s happening in a few months.”

 “Really? That’s great.” Seeing that Daria had her unsure look on he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure I want to go. I mean. I’m not ashamed of anything I have but still. When I last saw most of these people I was very different. I just don’t want to go and be the center of sympathy.”

“That’s silly Daria. If anything I’m the one who should be scared. I mean I was the guy supposed to go pro. Instead I’m working with my dad but I don’t care, I’m happy. You have nothing to be worried about. You’re great.”

Daria shook her head. He was being sweet again and she loved him for it but she couldn’t shake her concerns.

“I still don’t know.”

“Look. Why don’t you go ahead and say we’ll go. If you change your mind we can always just not show up. And if we do go, you’ll be the hit of the party. After all, you’ll be going with the QB.”

Taking her finger, she jabbed him in the ribs.

“Oww!” He said. “That hurt.”

“Well you deserved it for that crack.”

Smiling, he looked at her and said, “Sorry.”

Leaning on his shoulder again, she said, “I’ll send the RSVP and questionnaire along with the check in the morning.”

“Great. Now can I cut the TV back on?”

“Yea.” Daria said, then picked up her magazine to finish the article she started earlier.

The big night finally came. In spite of her misgivings, Daria sat in front of the gymnasium entrance. Reaching up, she took Kevin’s hand. Looking at his wife, he asked, “Are you ready?”

Nodding, she said, “I guess.” Letting go, she went to the entrance. Kevin reached down and opened the door for her. Once inside, they saw a registration table. Going over, they looked for their nametags. As they searched, Daria heard a familiar voice.

“Hello Daria.”

Stopping what she was doing, She looked up to see a dark-haired woman dressed in a nice suit. Looking closely, the reality finally sank in.

“Andrea? Is that you? You look great.”

“You too.” Andrea said. “How have you been doing?”

“Good, and you?”

“Okay I guess.”

Before they could get talking seriously a small group came up.

“I have to take care of some more people here but don’t go away before we can talk more.” Andrea said. “You really do look amazing.”

Daria smiled and went over to Kevin who had finally found their tags. Putting them on, they went into the gym. Looking around at the larger than expected crowd they saw many familiar faces. Almost immediately, Daria saw Jane talking to someone who she recognized but couldn’t recall his name. Kevin’s search quickly turned up his quarry as well. Excusing himself, he said, “Sorry Daria. Gotta leave. There’s Mack. I haven’t seen him since he left for school.” As he was rushing away, she heard him shouting, “Hey Mack Daddy! How’s it going?”

His disturbance stopped the action for long enough for Daria to see the one person she had hoped to find. Going over, she stopped behind her.

“Hello Jodie.”

Turning from her job at the podium, Jodie saw the person sitting in front of her. She had feared this might happen from the very moment she got Daria’s RSVP.

“Hello Daria. How have you been?”

“Pretty good. I can’t complain. Actually I can complain and do so quite often. But that’s nothing new.”

Jodie laughed nervously. She didn’t know what to say. Luckily, Daria took control.

“Is there any place we can talk? I mean out of earshot of the general public.”

“I really don’t have much time. I’m in charge of this party and have several things to do. Can it wait?”

“Not really. It’s waited ten years already. Don’t worry, it won’t take too long.”

Jodie really didn’t want to go with her right then. It was a party after all. There had to be better times for this conversation. Realizing though that if it didn’t happen then it might not happen at all, she relented and gestured for Daria to follow her. Leaving the floor and making their way through the maze of banquet tables, they sat in a corner far away from the action.

“This should be fine.” Jodie said.

Daria nodded in agreement. Suddenly all her thoughts went blank. She had practiced what she wanted to say for so long but now that the moment was here it all left her brain. Eventually, Jodie had enough of the silence and spoke.

“So. You look good.”

“Thanks. You too.”

“I was shocked when I got your RSVP. I never figured you would go in for this.”

“I’ll have to admit it wasn’t easy.” Daria said. “It was Kevin’s and Jane’s encouragement that made me come.”

“Yea. I wondered about that, you and Kevin? How did that happen? I never would have figured in a million years that pairing.”

Chuckling, Daria said, “Yea. I still wonder what happened. It’s too long a story to tell now but, long story short, it’s a family trait to fall for guys like that. He’s still a total doofus but he’s also very sweet and takes good care of me and the girls.”

“The girls?” Jodie asked.

“Yes. Our daughters.” Getting out her pocketbook, she produced a photograph of the pair. “That’s Jane and the smaller one’s Vicky.”

“They’re beautiful.” Jodie said. “I saw from your questionnaire you returned that you’re working at a TV station here.”

“Yea. I’ve been there about eight years. I direct their morning and noon shows and other productions in between.”

“Looks like you’re well on your way to running the place.”

“Nah.” Daria said. “When the production manager left last month they offered me the position. I turned it down.”

Jodie was shocked. “Why? It sounds like a great job.”

“It would have been. But it would have cost too much. I love my job but I love my family more. Right now, I do my job and go home. Soon both girls will be at school. While Kevin gets them off in the morning, I’ll be there to welcome them home every afternoon. If I had taken the job I would have to be at work all day. I’d miss seeing them as much as I do. To me that’s more than a bigger paycheck. That may change someday but I’m happy with things this way right now.”

“That’s nice Daria.” Suddenly, Jodie got silent. If they were going to take care of things, she wanted to get this out of the way. Finally she went for broke.

“Uh Daria. I want to apologize.”

Knowing what she meant, Daria still asked, “For what?”

“That night.” Jodie said. “It’s been a cloud over me for all this time. I constantly go over what happened wondering if there was anything I could have done to prevent it. I wish things had gone differently.”

“So do I but years of therapy have let me accept what happened. It’s okay Jodie. You weren’t driving the car. Brittany was. There’s nothing that you could have done. It happened so fast.”

“Still. I’ve been angry at myself for letting it happen.”

“I was angry too, at everything. Even you. Eventually though I managed to redirect most of my anger toward a deep hatred of revolving doors.”

Jodie laughed again. Daria had relieved some of her tension with that comment. “Still.” She said. “I’ve felt like a coward. When you were in the hospital I came by a few times but never worked up the nerve to go in.”

“That’s probably for the best. I hated you and Brittany so much then. It wouldn’t have been pleasant.” Slowly, she pulled back and moved closer to Jodie. “Look. I don’t blame you for what happened. I do blame Brittany but I don’t hate either of you any more. You appear to have punished yourself enough and Brittany paid the ultimate price for her actions. I’m still here with a great husband, wonderful kids, and a job I enjoy. That’s infinitely more than she got to have. It’s not how I planned things and it’s far from perfect but it’s still pretty good. Don’t beat yourself up anymore.”

A visibly emotional Jodie, looked deep into Daria’s eyes. Seeing the sincerity, she was speechless. Finally regaining her composure, she said, “Thank you. Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me. I’ve wanted to talk to you for years about this but was such a coward.”

Seeing this might be too much after all, Daria felt perhaps they should quit now and try to deal with this more at a later time.

“What are we doing? Isn’t this supposed to be a party?” Daria asked. “All we’re doing is bringing each other down right now. Are you going to be in town long?” 

“Yes, until Tuesday. Why?”

“Give me a call. We’ll get together and discuss things more then. It’s time for both of us to move on but tonight we’re just going to enjoy ourselves okay? Now I see Jane. I want to go talk to her.”

“Sure. I’ll call you tomorrow we can set something up then ”Jodie said. Getting up, she looked at Daria “And you’re right this is a party and I’m the emcee. If you’ll excuse me I need to get ready. Enjoy the party. Later.”

“Yea. Later.” Daria said. Looking around, she finally saw her next destination and went to rescue Mack.

The End.

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