Chapter 13 - The Scar on the Pavement
A month after coming home, Toby’s walking cast was removed, replaced with a flexible stabilizer brace. His mobility returned steadily, accompanied by twice-weekly physical therapy sessions.
One Saturday afternoon, Marcus took Toby for a walk in the stroller through downtown. They stopped at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Adams Street—the corner where the taxi had run the red light.
The crosswalk looked mundane. Pedestrians rushed by carrying shopping bags, traffic lights cycled from green to red, and city buses hissed at the curb.
Marcus felt his chest tighten, his breath hitching slightly. The ghost of that afternoon lingered on the asphalt.
Toby noticed. He reached his hand out from the stroller, tapping Marcus's arm.
"Dad?"
Marcus looked down, forcing a gentle smile. "Yeah, buddy?"
"Are you scared?" Toby asked innocently.
Marcus knelt down on the sidewalk, uncaring that his jeans touched the dusty concrete. He looked at the crosswalk, then at his son's bright, healthy face.
"I was," Marcus admitted honestly. "I was very scared of this street, Toby. Because I almost lost you here."
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Toby reached out and touched the side of Marcus’s face, his small fingers brushing through his father’s beard. "It's okay now, Dad. We're on the sidewalk together."
A profound wave of relief washed over Marcus. He nodded, standing up tall. "Yes, we are. Let's go get some ice cream."
