Legless Lee

"Okay, okay." He flashed a cheeky grin at her before continuing on their way. "I hope we don’t have to walk too far…"

"Neither do I," she knew how tired he could get from long distances. "I dont know where the shopping centre is for us to find any restaurants either…" 

"I guess we could ask someone?" Leeland wouldn't be above asking for directions this time around. He was hungry and didn't want to get lost.

He chuckled, leaning into her kiss. “I know. But hey, if the opportunity arises, you know I’ll take it.”

"You’ll always take it," she laughed. "Come on Lee, you can hold it in." 

"Okay, okay." He flashed a cheeky grin at her before continuing on their way. "I hope we don't have to walk too far..."

"You might want to risk the scare." Leeland chuckled. "Oh and now bathing might be a little harder. You’ll have to strictly take baths and someone might have to help you in. But it’s a great excuse to have a little fun with your lady." Leeland definitely took advantage of that. "It’s not always bad things that come from this."

"Ah, I don’t think I’ll be doing any of that with Alissa until I’m 100% better," Valentino also didn’t want to touch her and risk hurting her; he’d already caused enough damage with her. "But, I will take that advice," Valentino chuckled, reaching for his crutches. "I guess I’ll walk you out…or…well, you know what I mean," 

"I know what you mean. And thank you." Leeland started toward the door. "You know I really wasn’t sure I’d be able to help…did I do a good job?" He looked at Valentino, still smiling.

Valentino nodded, turning towards Leeland. “I guess. It did snap me out of it…and got me to realize just how selfish and inconsiderate I was being…,” his eyes shifted a bit. “Have you ever felt like that?” 

"More times than I care to admit." Leeland was the king of selfish and inconsiderate acts. "I think the first step is realizing what an ass you’ve become."

He nodded slowly. “Yeah…I guess getting over that hurdle is important t do,” Valentino leaned against the wall, twisting the knob to the front door. “I just hope I don’t fall into that pattern again…,” 

"I hope when you realize that you are again, you can stop yourself." Lee really didn't think he'd go without episodes here and there, after all he still had his own moments to deal with.

"You might want to risk the scare." Leeland chuckled. "Oh and now bathing might be a little harder. You’ll have to strictly take baths and someone might have to help you in. But it’s a great excuse to have a little fun with your lady." Leeland definitely took advantage of that. "It’s not always bad things that come from this."

"Ah, I don’t think I’ll be doing any of that with Alissa until I’m 100% better," Valentino also didn’t want to touch her and risk hurting her; he’d already caused enough damage with her. "But, I will take that advice," Valentino chuckled, reaching for his crutches. "I guess I’ll walk you out…or…well, you know what I mean," 

"I know what you mean. And thank you." Leeland started toward the door. "You know I really wasn’t sure I’d be able to help…did I do a good job?" He looked at Valentino, still smiling.

Valentino nodded, turning towards Leeland. “I guess. It did snap me out of it…and got me to realize just how selfish and inconsiderate I was being…,” his eyes shifted a bit. “Have you ever felt like that?” 

"More times than I care to admit." Leeland was the king of selfish and inconsiderate acts. "I think the first step is realizing what an ass you've become."

"You might want to risk the scare." Leeland chuckled. "Oh and now bathing might be a little harder. You’ll have to strictly take baths and someone might have to help you in. But it’s a great excuse to have a little fun with your lady." Leeland definitely took advantage of that. "It’s not always bad things that come from this."

"Ah, I don’t think I’ll be doing any of that with Alissa until I’m 100% better," Valentino also didn’t want to touch her and risk hurting her; he’d already caused enough damage with her. "But, I will take that advice," Valentino chuckled, reaching for his crutches. "I guess I’ll walk you out…or…well, you know what I mean," 

"I know what you mean. And thank you." Leeland started toward the door. "You know I really wasn't sure I'd be able to help...did I do a good job?" He looked at Valentino, still smiling.

  He leaned forward and placed a hand on Val’s shoulder. “Valentino. What you’re going through…it’s a very serious thing. But many have come before you. Some ended their lives but others have learned to work with the hand they were dealt. They became survivors. And that’s real strength. Something your family and child can look to you for.” He retracted his hand. “But what you have to learn, no matter how you think it feels…you’re not alone.”

Valentino looked at Leeland again. He wasn’t alone. That rang in his head for a few moments before it really processed. Lee was saying that there were others like him…Was it true? Well, it sounded like it…and he was talking to one of them right now. He knocked his head against the glass. “At least I have others to relate to…,” 

He smiled. Seemed like Val was loosening up a little. “It’s something I wish someone would’ve told me sooner. So forgive me if I’m a little selfish for wanting to see you do better than I did.” Leeland stretched a little. “I should probably also tell you that you won’t wake tomorrow feeling a hundred percent better. It’s still depression you’re dealing with. Ups and downs will come around. But just try to work through them at your own pace. And for Sina’s sake, let that cute and sweet girl of yours help you out.”

Valentino breathed out through his nose. He needed Alissa’s help, and all he did was push her away. Leeland was right in everything he was saying. “I know…but at least tomorrow I’ll wake up with a more positive attitude…,” Valentino felt a smile brush his lips. It was the first smile he cracked in months. “Thank you…Leeland…for coming down here and helping me out…,” 

"You’re welcome. No one really deserves to go through this alone." Leeland let out a long sigh, stretching. "And if you ever want to talk about something you think your girl won’t get, well you can always come see me. I don’t mind lending an ear."

Valentino nodded. Now he really needed to talk to Alissa when she came home. “I’ll keep that in mind,” Valentino said, covering his mouth as he yawned. “I should get some sleep until Alissa gets home…I have a lot to talk to her about..,” 

"That sounds good." Leeland stood, getting himself settled on his crutches. "And yeah, do that. You look like hell." Not that Lee really ever had a place to stand on that.

Valentino knew for sure he needed to shower…and definitely needed a shave. Maybe he could surprise her in some way…Valentino smiled. “I can only imagine…I’m too scared to look at myself in the mirror,” 

"You might want to risk the scare." Leeland chuckled. "Oh and now bathing might be a little harder. You'll have to strictly take baths and someone might have to help you in. But it's a great excuse to have a little fun with your lady." Leeland definitely took advantage of that. "It's not always bad things that come from this."

  He leaned forward and placed a hand on Val’s shoulder. “Valentino. What you’re going through…it’s a very serious thing. But many have come before you. Some ended their lives but others have learned to work with the hand they were dealt. They became survivors. And that’s real strength. Something your family and child can look to you for.” He retracted his hand. “But what you have to learn, no matter how you think it feels…you’re not alone.”

Valentino looked at Leeland again. He wasn’t alone. That rang in his head for a few moments before it really processed. Lee was saying that there were others like him…Was it true? Well, it sounded like it…and he was talking to one of them right now. He knocked his head against the glass. “At least I have others to relate to…,” 

He smiled. Seemed like Val was loosening up a little. “It’s something I wish someone would’ve told me sooner. So forgive me if I’m a little selfish for wanting to see you do better than I did.” Leeland stretched a little. “I should probably also tell you that you won’t wake tomorrow feeling a hundred percent better. It’s still depression you’re dealing with. Ups and downs will come around. But just try to work through them at your own pace. And for Sina’s sake, let that cute and sweet girl of yours help you out.”

Valentino breathed out through his nose. He needed Alissa’s help, and all he did was push her away. Leeland was right in everything he was saying. “I know…but at least tomorrow I’ll wake up with a more positive attitude…,” Valentino felt a smile brush his lips. It was the first smile he cracked in months. “Thank you…Leeland…for coming down here and helping me out…,” 

"You’re welcome. No one really deserves to go through this alone." Leeland let out a long sigh, stretching. "And if you ever want to talk about something you think your girl won’t get, well you can always come see me. I don’t mind lending an ear."

Valentino nodded. Now he really needed to talk to Alissa when she came home. “I’ll keep that in mind,” Valentino said, covering his mouth as he yawned. “I should get some sleep until Alissa gets home…I have a lot to talk to her about..,” 

"That sounds good." Leeland stood, getting himself settled on his crutches. "And yeah, do that. You look like hell." Not that Lee really ever had a place to stand on that.

  He leaned forward and placed a hand on Val’s shoulder. “Valentino. What you’re going through…it’s a very serious thing. But many have come before you. Some ended their lives but others have learned to work with the hand they were dealt. They became survivors. And that’s real strength. Something your family and child can look to you for.” He retracted his hand. “But what you have to learn, no matter how you think it feels…you’re not alone.”

Valentino looked at Leeland again. He wasn’t alone. That rang in his head for a few moments before it really processed. Lee was saying that there were others like him…Was it true? Well, it sounded like it…and he was talking to one of them right now. He knocked his head against the glass. “At least I have others to relate to…,” 

He smiled. Seemed like Val was loosening up a little. “It’s something I wish someone would’ve told me sooner. So forgive me if I’m a little selfish for wanting to see you do better than I did.” Leeland stretched a little. “I should probably also tell you that you won’t wake tomorrow feeling a hundred percent better. It’s still depression you’re dealing with. Ups and downs will come around. But just try to work through them at your own pace. And for Sina’s sake, let that cute and sweet girl of yours help you out.”

Valentino breathed out through his nose. He needed Alissa’s help, and all he did was push her away. Leeland was right in everything he was saying. “I know…but at least tomorrow I’ll wake up with a more positive attitude…,” Valentino felt a smile brush his lips. It was the first smile he cracked in months. “Thank you…Leeland…for coming down here and helping me out…,” 

"You're welcome. No one really deserves to go through this alone." Leeland let out a long sigh, stretching. "And if you ever want to talk about something you think your girl won't get, well you can always come see me. I don't mind lending an ear."

  He leaned forward and placed a hand on Val’s shoulder. “Valentino. What you’re going through…it’s a very serious thing. But many have come before you. Some ended their lives but others have learned to work with the hand they were dealt. They became survivors. And that’s real strength. Something your family and child can look to you for.” He retracted his hand. “But what you have to learn, no matter how you think it feels…you’re not alone.”

Valentino looked at Leeland again. He wasn’t alone. That rang in his head for a few moments before it really processed. Lee was saying that there were others like him…Was it true? Well, it sounded like it…and he was talking to one of them right now. He knocked his head against the glass. “At least I have others to relate to…,” 

He smiled. Seemed like Val was loosening up a little. "It's something I wish someone would've told me sooner. So forgive me if I'm a little selfish for wanting to see you do better than I did." Leeland stretched a little. "I should probably also tell you that you won't wake tomorrow feeling a hundred percent better. It's still depression you're dealing with. Ups and downs will come around. But just try to work through them at your own pace. And for Sina's sake, let that cute and sweet girl of yours help you out."

  Leeland thought back to when he first lost his leg, recognizing the attitude Val was using. It was an old feeling he didn’t want to revisit… “Then I’ll talk. Right now you feel hopeless…helpless…a failure by every meaning of the word. You sit here thinking that you’re useless to the world now that you’re only part of a man. And more often than not you think that you should’ve just died out there, save everyone the trouble and just never have come back.” Leeland looked at Val. “You can stop me if I’m wrong.”

As Leeland spoke, Val could feel his heart sink lower and lower in his chest. Everything he said was true. He felt hopeless and helpless, like he just didn’t fit in the world anymore. Valentino sighed very slowly, his fingers reaching up to run through his hair. “My whole life…I’ve been the strong one in my family, all my little siblings looked up to me….I don’t believe I can be like that ever again…and I’ll just let everyone down…,” Valentino chuckled bitterly. “Especially Alissa….,” 

"Well that’s true. You will never be who you were before." Leeland leaned back a little, wiggling his half leg softly. "Would you believe me if I told you you could over come this?" He chuckled. "Yeah I didn’t believe it at first either. I was sure it was only darkness ahead. And I did the worst thing I could do. I gave up. I was one pill away from killing myself with my overdose. But at the last minute I found out that there was someone out there who hadn’t given up on me. She saved me." Leeland looked down. "Alissa hasn’t given up on you. Not in the slightest. But she sees where you’re heading. Valentino, you have to try for her and your baby. You haven’t failed her yet."

Valentino didn’t believe that. How would his life get better? He was pretty much stuck for the rest of his life. Valentino sighed, turning to Leeland. “You really think my child will want a father like me? One who won’t be able to do anything with them…They’ll grow up and hate me…,” 

Leeland chuckled. “Oh Valentino. You have no idea how much we are alike.” Lee ran a hand through his hair. “I have a daughter. She’s about to turn one. I have never once been able to carry her without sitting. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to think I was a terrible father. No that will be for different reasons. Your child will love you for you.” He shrugged. “And there are prosthetics out there. My fiancée helped save up for one for me. You can do the same.”

It was strange to meet someone with so many similarities…Valentino had no idea that he’d meet someone like him. Valentino sighed. “Well, they won’t hate me immediately since they’re going to be just a baby…but what about when they get older? What if they get made fun of for having a dad with a fake leg?” Valentino ruffled his hair.

"Well isn’t that part of parenting? If it’s not for having a dad with a bum leg then it’s for something else." Leeland had a similar fear for Jasmine. But he knew he could teach her to not let that bother her, to show her that he was more of a dad without his leg than the ones with two. "That’s a normal fear to have when expecting, at least to my knowledge."

Was it just a simple fear? Is that all he was feeling? Valentino felt like it was much bigger than that. He sighed, rubbing his face for a few moments as he tried to gather himself. “I don’t know…,” Valentino lowered his head, shaking it as he squeezed his eyes shut. “I don’t know if this really is what you say…,” 

He leaned forward and placed a hand on Val's shoulder. "Valentino. What you're going through...it's a very serious thing. But many have come before you. Some ended their lives but others have learned to work with the hand they were dealt. They became survivors. And that's real strength. Something your family and child can look to you for." He retracted his hand. "But what you have to learn, no matter how you think it feels...you're not alone."

  Leeland thought back to when he first lost his leg, recognizing the attitude Val was using. It was an old feeling he didn’t want to revisit… “Then I’ll talk. Right now you feel hopeless…helpless…a failure by every meaning of the word. You sit here thinking that you’re useless to the world now that you’re only part of a man. And more often than not you think that you should’ve just died out there, save everyone the trouble and just never have come back.” Leeland looked at Val. “You can stop me if I’m wrong.”

As Leeland spoke, Val could feel his heart sink lower and lower in his chest. Everything he said was true. He felt hopeless and helpless, like he just didn’t fit in the world anymore. Valentino sighed very slowly, his fingers reaching up to run through his hair. “My whole life…I’ve been the strong one in my family, all my little siblings looked up to me….I don’t believe I can be like that ever again…and I’ll just let everyone down…,” Valentino chuckled bitterly. “Especially Alissa….,” 

"Well that’s true. You will never be who you were before." Leeland leaned back a little, wiggling his half leg softly. "Would you believe me if I told you you could over come this?" He chuckled. "Yeah I didn’t believe it at first either. I was sure it was only darkness ahead. And I did the worst thing I could do. I gave up. I was one pill away from killing myself with my overdose. But at the last minute I found out that there was someone out there who hadn’t given up on me. She saved me." Leeland looked down. "Alissa hasn’t given up on you. Not in the slightest. But she sees where you’re heading. Valentino, you have to try for her and your baby. You haven’t failed her yet."

Valentino didn’t believe that. How would his life get better? He was pretty much stuck for the rest of his life. Valentino sighed, turning to Leeland. “You really think my child will want a father like me? One who won’t be able to do anything with them…They’ll grow up and hate me…,” 

Leeland chuckled. “Oh Valentino. You have no idea how much we are alike.” Lee ran a hand through his hair. “I have a daughter. She’s about to turn one. I have never once been able to carry her without sitting. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to think I was a terrible father. No that will be for different reasons. Your child will love you for you.” He shrugged. “And there are prosthetics out there. My fiancée helped save up for one for me. You can do the same.”

It was strange to meet someone with so many similarities…Valentino had no idea that he’d meet someone like him. Valentino sighed. “Well, they won’t hate me immediately since they’re going to be just a baby…but what about when they get older? What if they get made fun of for having a dad with a fake leg?” Valentino ruffled his hair.

"Well isn't that part of parenting? If it's not for having a dad with a bum leg then it's for something else." Leeland had a similar fear for Jasmine. But he knew he could teach her to not let that bother her, to show her that he was more of a dad without his leg than the ones with two. "That's a normal fear to have when expecting, at least to my knowledge."

  Leeland thought back to when he first lost his leg, recognizing the attitude Val was using. It was an old feeling he didn’t want to revisit… “Then I’ll talk. Right now you feel hopeless…helpless…a failure by every meaning of the word. You sit here thinking that you’re useless to the world now that you’re only part of a man. And more often than not you think that you should’ve just died out there, save everyone the trouble and just never have come back.” Leeland looked at Val. “You can stop me if I’m wrong.”

As Leeland spoke, Val could feel his heart sink lower and lower in his chest. Everything he said was true. He felt hopeless and helpless, like he just didn’t fit in the world anymore. Valentino sighed very slowly, his fingers reaching up to run through his hair. “My whole life…I’ve been the strong one in my family, all my little siblings looked up to me….I don’t believe I can be like that ever again…and I’ll just let everyone down…,” Valentino chuckled bitterly. “Especially Alissa….,” 

"Well that’s true. You will never be who you were before." Leeland leaned back a little, wiggling his half leg softly. "Would you believe me if I told you you could over come this?" He chuckled. "Yeah I didn’t believe it at first either. I was sure it was only darkness ahead. And I did the worst thing I could do. I gave up. I was one pill away from killing myself with my overdose. But at the last minute I found out that there was someone out there who hadn’t given up on me. She saved me." Leeland looked down. "Alissa hasn’t given up on you. Not in the slightest. But she sees where you’re heading. Valentino, you have to try for her and your baby. You haven’t failed her yet."

Valentino didn’t believe that. How would his life get better? He was pretty much stuck for the rest of his life. Valentino sighed, turning to Leeland. “You really think my child will want a father like me? One who won’t be able to do anything with them…They’ll grow up and hate me…,” 

Leeland chuckled. "Oh Valentino. You have no idea how much we are alike." Lee ran a hand through his hair. "I have a daughter. She's about to turn one. I have never once been able to carry her without sitting. But that doesn't mean she's going to think I was a terrible father. No that will be for different reasons. Your child will love you for you." He shrugged. "And there are prosthetics out there. My fiancée helped save up for one for me. You can do the same."

  Leeland thought back to when he first lost his leg, recognizing the attitude Val was using. It was an old feeling he didn’t want to revisit… “Then I’ll talk. Right now you feel hopeless…helpless…a failure by every meaning of the word. You sit here thinking that you’re useless to the world now that you’re only part of a man. And more often than not you think that you should’ve just died out there, save everyone the trouble and just never have come back.” Leeland looked at Val. “You can stop me if I’m wrong.”

As Leeland spoke, Val could feel his heart sink lower and lower in his chest. Everything he said was true. He felt hopeless and helpless, like he just didn’t fit in the world anymore. Valentino sighed very slowly, his fingers reaching up to run through his hair. “My whole life…I’ve been the strong one in my family, all my little siblings looked up to me….I don’t believe I can be like that ever again…and I’ll just let everyone down…,” Valentino chuckled bitterly. “Especially Alissa….,” 

"Well that's true. You will never be who you were before." Leeland leaned back a little, wiggling his half leg softly. "Would you believe me if I told you you could over come this?" He chuckled. "Yeah I didn't believe it at first either. I was sure it was only darkness ahead. And I did the worst thing I could do. I gave up. I was one pill away from killing myself with my overdose. But at the last minute I found out that there was someone out there who hadn't given up on me. She saved me." Leeland looked down. "Alissa hasn't given up on you. Not in the slightest. But she sees where you're heading. Valentino, you have to try for her and your baby. You haven't failed her yet."

Lee shifted a little when he didn’t hear anyone come to the door. That stubborn, huh? “Corporal Leeland Holzman.” He spoke in an official voice to bring a little more urgency to the matter.

"What do you want?" Valentino asked, keeping his voice low so he didn’t over exert it too quickly. He really didn’t want to talk to anyone; he wanted to do what he did everyday, watch the sun rise and set and the happy people walk up and down his street.

Leeland sighed lightly. “I’m here upon request from your fiancée, Alissa. She came to my office, thinking I could talk with you and maybe help with your situation.” It would be a big step if Val would just open the door, but if not Alissa had given him the key to the room. She had sounded desperate when she asked him to do this.

Great, Alissa hired someone to talk to him. He didn’t need this; Val was perfectly fine, despite not eating properly and not giving his future wife the time of day. “I don’t need to talk to anyone…,” he said, moving his head from the window and reaching out for his crutches. “Alissa worries too much,” 

"She has a good reason to worry from what she said." Leeland started to pull out the key. "Well I don’t have time to waste just standing out here. I’m coming in whether you like it or not." With that he started to open the door.

Valentino grunted as he got up, going to the door and twisting the lock. “It’s open,” he said, hobbling back over to his chair by the window. Even though he didn’t want to talk to anyone about this, this man obviously had the key so he was coming in no matter what.

How stubborn… Leeland heard the lock and opened the door slowly. Geeze that room was stuffy…Lee didn’t get how Valentino could breathe in here. Getting his hands on his crutches, he hobbled on in with the loud click of his crutches hitting the floor. “Thank you Valentino.” He looked at the man sitting, standing right next to him. “Mind if I take a seat?”

The Spaniard looked up at Leeland. Now he knew why Alissa chose this guy to talk to him; they were both in the same boat. Well, sort of. Valentino nodded. “Sure, go ahead,” Valentino said, pressing his head back against the window. “So…what are you supposed to talk to me about?” 

Lee pulled a seat up to Val, with a grunt lowering himself down. “Well she said she was concerned about how you were acting. Depressed and isolated… I guess she was hoping you’d open up to me. Maybe you’d have questions or just want to talk…” Leeland ran a hand down his thigh, rubbing at his nub.

"I’m not opening up to anyone, so why would I open up to you? Just because we have something in common…," Valentino stopped there, looking at his own leg, reaching down to adjust the bandages. "I don’t want to talk about it…," 

Leeland thought back to when he first lost his leg, recognizing the attitude Val was using. It was an old feeling he didn't want to revisit... "Then I'll talk. Right now you feel hopeless...helpless...a failure by every meaning of the word. You sit here thinking that you're useless to the world now that you're only part of a man. And more often than not you think that you should've just died out there, save everyone the trouble and just never have come back." Leeland looked at Val. "You can stop me if I'm wrong."

Lee shifted a little when he didn’t hear anyone come to the door. That stubborn, huh? “Corporal Leeland Holzman.” He spoke in an official voice to bring a little more urgency to the matter.

"What do you want?" Valentino asked, keeping his voice low so he didn’t over exert it too quickly. He really didn’t want to talk to anyone; he wanted to do what he did everyday, watch the sun rise and set and the happy people walk up and down his street.

Leeland sighed lightly. “I’m here upon request from your fiancée, Alissa. She came to my office, thinking I could talk with you and maybe help with your situation.” It would be a big step if Val would just open the door, but if not Alissa had given him the key to the room. She had sounded desperate when she asked him to do this.

Great, Alissa hired someone to talk to him. He didn’t need this; Val was perfectly fine, despite not eating properly and not giving his future wife the time of day. “I don’t need to talk to anyone…,” he said, moving his head from the window and reaching out for his crutches. “Alissa worries too much,” 

"She has a good reason to worry from what she said." Leeland started to pull out the key. "Well I don’t have time to waste just standing out here. I’m coming in whether you like it or not." With that he started to open the door.

Valentino grunted as he got up, going to the door and twisting the lock. “It’s open,” he said, hobbling back over to his chair by the window. Even though he didn’t want to talk to anyone about this, this man obviously had the key so he was coming in no matter what.

How stubborn… Leeland heard the lock and opened the door slowly. Geeze that room was stuffy…Lee didn’t get how Valentino could breathe in here. Getting his hands on his crutches, he hobbled on in with the loud click of his crutches hitting the floor. “Thank you Valentino.” He looked at the man sitting, standing right next to him. “Mind if I take a seat?”

The Spaniard looked up at Leeland. Now he knew why Alissa chose this guy to talk to him; they were both in the same boat. Well, sort of. Valentino nodded. “Sure, go ahead,” Valentino said, pressing his head back against the window. “So…what are you supposed to talk to me about?” 

Lee pulled a seat up to Val, with a grunt lowering himself down. "Well she said she was concerned about how you were acting. Depressed and isolated... I guess she was hoping you'd open up to me. Maybe you'd have questions or just want to talk..." Leeland ran a hand down his thigh, rubbing at his nub.

Lee shifted a little when he didn’t hear anyone come to the door. That stubborn, huh? “Corporal Leeland Holzman.” He spoke in an official voice to bring a little more urgency to the matter.

"What do you want?" Valentino asked, keeping his voice low so he didn’t over exert it too quickly. He really didn’t want to talk to anyone; he wanted to do what he did everyday, watch the sun rise and set and the happy people walk up and down his street.

Leeland sighed lightly. “I’m here upon request from your fiancée, Alissa. She came to my office, thinking I could talk with you and maybe help with your situation.” It would be a big step if Val would just open the door, but if not Alissa had given him the key to the room. She had sounded desperate when she asked him to do this.

Great, Alissa hired someone to talk to him. He didn’t need this; Val was perfectly fine, despite not eating properly and not giving his future wife the time of day. “I don’t need to talk to anyone…,” he said, moving his head from the window and reaching out for his crutches. “Alissa worries too much,” 

"She has a good reason to worry from what she said." Leeland started to pull out the key. "Well I don’t have time to waste just standing out here. I’m coming in whether you like it or not." With that he started to open the door.

Valentino grunted as he got up, going to the door and twisting the lock. “It’s open,” he said, hobbling back over to his chair by the window. Even though he didn’t want to talk to anyone about this, this man obviously had the key so he was coming in no matter what.

How stubborn... Leeland heard the lock and opened the door slowly. Geeze that room was stuffy...Lee didn't get how Valentino could breathe in here. Getting his hands on his crutches, he hobbled on in with the loud click of his crutches hitting the floor. "Thank you Valentino." He looked at the man sitting, standing right next to him. "Mind if I take a seat?"

Lee shifted a little when he didn’t hear anyone come to the door. That stubborn, huh? “Corporal Leeland Holzman.” He spoke in an official voice to bring a little more urgency to the matter.

"What do you want?" Valentino asked, keeping his voice low so he didn’t over exert it too quickly. He really didn’t want to talk to anyone; he wanted to do what he did everyday, watch the sun rise and set and the happy people walk up and down his street.

Leeland sighed lightly. “I’m here upon request from your fiancée, Alissa. She came to my office, thinking I could talk with you and maybe help with your situation.” It would be a big step if Val would just open the door, but if not Alissa had given him the key to the room. She had sounded desperate when she asked him to do this.

Great, Alissa hired someone to talk to him. He didn’t need this; Val was perfectly fine, despite not eating properly and not giving his future wife the time of day. “I don’t need to talk to anyone…,” he said, moving his head from the window and reaching out for his crutches. “Alissa worries too much,” 

"She has a good reason to worry from what she said." Leeland started to pull out the key. "Well I don't have time to waste just standing out here. I'm coming in whether you like it or not." With that he started to open the door.