Drew Nelles

The writer recalls an accident that left his friend paralyzed. A memoir about friendship and disability:

“‘You can move your leg!’ I said. When a nurse came in, I pointed. ‘That’s not a muscle spasm, right? He can move his leg.’

“The nurse looked at Dan, then shifted her gaze to the floor. She was silent for a moment.

“‘I’m pretty sure,’ she said softly, ‘that’s a muscle spasm.’

“The blood drained from my face. The nurse left the room, and for the first time since Dan was injured I felt tears in my eyes. He would never walk again, and there was no point in pretending otherwise. I stood at the foot of his bed, watching his leg, which was now twitching uncontrollably. My face began to move in spasms, too, and I wept.”