It had always been my dream to go to university and have the full college experience. At times though, it seemed a daft thought for a guy in a wheelchair who needed so much assistance day to day. And yet here I am in the middle of my second semester of my third year at University College Dublin.
However, I am now in the middle of difficulties that threaten everything. My trusted Personal Assistant has just left the job leaving me in the lurch. He had worked with me from the very beginning. My mother said that I had been blessed and maybe that was true. He got a much better paying job. I knew that it would happen at some point.
Now, I was relying on the goodwill of other students to get me through the day. All that drinking in the student bar had at least been somewhat of a positive.
Now I was on the way up the long ramp in front of the restaurant where my father was waiting for me. We were there to interview three people who had shown an interest in the job.
We waited patiently in an area remote to the other few people in there. It was a quiet time of the day. The first person was a no show. Not a good start. Well, at least second person showed up. It was a guy in his early thirties. He had long, brown hair with his ears and nose pierced. There was a stench of cannabis. He left and we told him that we would be in touch.
Then she walked in walked. I was flummoxed. She was a few years older than myself, dressed formally with shoulder length blonde hair.
“Ulrika?” my Dad enquired, probably still thinking it was the wrong person.
“Yes, thats me.”
My Dad thanked her for coming and told her what would be involved.
She was in Ireland for the year looking to improve her English, which was almost perfect in any event.
“Do you have any questions? Are you still interested?”
“What are you studying?
“History and Economics. I enjoy them.”
With that, the interview ended. She left with a little wave.”
Neither of us said anything for a few moments.
“She seemed good.”
“Yeah, but what will your mother say?”
“Well, she’ll hardly want me hanging around with a junkie, now will she?”
“Yeah, probably not.”
Now I just had to hope she took the job.
**********************************************************************
I had always wanted to visit Ireland ever since I was young, it was a magical place in my childhood. The hospitality of the people is legendary and I grew up dreaming of visiting the Cliffs of Moher and the Giant’s Causeway. So, I jumped when the opportunity arose after I finished my studies.
The first few months were brilliant. I spent them in Galway, then Cork before heading to Dublin. Ireland was everything that I expected it to be. But then my money started to run low and Dublin is just so expensive. I just cannot countenance asking my parents for more money. So, I’m living a quiet, lonely life at the moment.
Then I saw the poster looking for a Personal Assistant for a young man with a disability and that accommodation would be provided. It sounded perfect so I rang and spoke to the young man’s father, even if I haven’t done that type of work before. And I’d only be working five days a week, so still time to party if I want.
I think that I did an okay interview. It was in a restaurant in the university. It reminded me of my own days at college. The father mostly spoke but Aidan seemed nice. It was a disability that I had not come across before but that is hardly surprising . His hands turned back in on themselves and his limbs were fixed. Quite a good looking man all the same. I would have to use a hoist but I’m sure I’d get the hang of it.
Well, I guess I’ll have to wait and see. The other options I’m looking out for is working in a supermarket or a hotel, neither of which really appeal to me. Fingers crossed then.
***************************************************************************
Ulrika was due to arrive any moment. Aidan felt somewhat tense but that was not unusual when a new Personal Assistant was about to start. There was always a niggling doubt that maybe they might not show up after having second thoughts. And that would be a problem as his Dad had left an hour ago, heading back to Athboy. His mother had indeed been concerned about a blonde Swedish woman looking after her impressionable young son –
“You are there to study, not to be cavorting at my expense.”
Aidan assured her that was indeed his attention –
“Yeah, right. I’m no eejit you know.”
At that stage, he decided staying hum was the best policy.
They had given her some training the previous Friday on how to do some of the more complex man-oeuvres involving the hoist and getting dressed. Fortunately, she seemed very smart and quickly remembered what to do.
It was now just approaching six o’clock which was the allotted time and Aidan heard the outside door opening.
“Hi Aidan, you are here already? I just have to leave my stuff into the room, okay?”
“Yes, that is fine, take your time.”
It took her a few minutes to unpack everything before she entered the kitchen. They would now be sharing a two bedroom apartment. Aidan’s room was much larger as he needed to have space for the hoist. There was a communal kitchen/television room.
“Will I get you a cup of tea?”
“Yes, please.”
She was dressed more casually now. Thankfully, Aidan thought or she would stick out like a sore thumb otherwise.
“So, how was your day?” Aidan inquired.
“Busy, busy. Do you mind if I smoke?”
“Not at all.”
“Do you want one?”
“Yes, I will.”
Aidan knew they were going to get along very well.
*************************************************************************
The last few weeks have just flown by. Aidan has a busy schedule. I get up round half seven, then start getting him up around eight. It takes me just under an hour to getting him up, fed and watered. I can be quite tired by the end of it all.
Then it’s a small walk to his lecture theatre. He likes me to go with him to open the doors and swipe his card through security. He is close to some of classmates but only a few. I point out the pretty girls that he should try to make moves on. He thinks I’m teasing him but I’m not. He actually has quite alot going for him. He’s very intelligent especially at Math. Hopefully, he will make a ton when he’s older. He also has a good sense of humor. Those girls are missing out. Not that I had much sense at that age. I wanted a hunk and had sex with quite a few of them. It was a good period in my life.
Aidan usually spends his evening in the student bar. It’s not my cup of tea as they say here. He can get quite tipsy so I like to walk home with him. He can talk alot of rubbish late at night. At least, he is always a gentlemen. Well, most of the time anyway. I caught him checking out my boobs one night when I was taking off his shirt. I didn’t embarrass him by commenting and it only lasted a few seconds anyway. He is only a man after all.
My weekends are totally free. The campus gets eerily quiet. I try to pass the time reading but I do be happy to see Aidan coming back. Maybe I should steal him for some weekend. No, we would just both be bored.
At least I have Erik’s email to occupy my mind. He is my boyfriend back home. It’s difficult for us to be apart. He writes that I am always in his thoughts.
***********************************************************
I felt it when Ulrika told me that she had a boyfriend. It was like a dagger to the heart. I should have known. Such a beautiful woman was always unlikely to be single. I hid my disappointment well. After all, I still needed a PA and my studies are the most important thing. And it would probably have been the last thing on her mind in any event.
It was a blessing really to find out when I did. I was starting to spend too much time with her in the apartment. She’s just so funny though and we have so much in common. We like the same kind of music – pop and we can spend hours talking about the state of the world.
No, its time to go back to trying to chat up girls my own age. She is constantly trying to encourage me but in truth, I need little encouragement. The only thing is I don’t think I will be anywhere near as fond of them. Even if I did have a relationship with one of them, they probably live up a flight of stairs and we’d barely see each other. Life can suck in a wheelchair.
I need to be more positive and I will. Everybody has a downer now and again but I’ll get through it. What I need to concentrate on is my upcoming Math exam. I’m near the top of my class and maybe someday a girl like Ulrika will like me.
**************************************************************************************
The only time I sometimes regret moving to Ireland is Christmas. It’s actually not that big of a deal in Sweden. But all this talk of family reminds me of how much I miss my own, Facetime is just not the same. At least the weather isn’t as cold as back home but sometimes I think I’d prefer that to this endless rain. Aidan has told me that Dublin isn’t actually that bad, that it actually rains much more in the West. At least I’m not there, I guess.
Erik hasn’t been messaging as much recently. All he talks about is when will I be coming home for good and how much he misses sex. Not so much about missing me.
Aidan has become a bit more distant too. We used to just spend hours drinking tea, smoking, and watching tv. But he’s been heading out more recently, spending time in the bar. Maybe I’m losing my touch with men, I don’t know.
I went to the pub to walk him home the other night. He was in his usual spot but I held off on going over to him when I saw he was talking to a pretty, slim brunette of about his age. She had long, curly brown hair. Next thing she has her arms draped around him, her long hair covering his head and they begin to kiss.
I didn’t know which way to look, but I couldn’t help getting turned on. Part of me wished it could be me with him; touching his long, thin arms and running my hands through his hair. Fortunately, they stopped after a while and he went to leave. Not sure how I would have managed if I had to undress him for her.
It took a few minutes for us to get back to the flat and I couldn’t help but ask him questions on the way. He was a bit “tipsy” as they call it over here.
“So, what was her name?”
“Marianne, I think?”
“You don’t know?”
“No, sure I only just met her.”
“Would you not prefer to be with someone you know?”
“Probably, but would they want to be with me?”
For a few moments a strange silence developed, so I switched the subject to football, he didn’t seem to notice and everything carried on as normal.
Oh, what is going on with me?
**************************************************************
I am stunned. Here, I am trying to concentrate on my trigonometry class but all I can think about is what happened last night.
It all started about two weeks ago when I kissed a pretty girl in the bar. Ulrika apparently saw me what happened and seemed a bit off. I wondered if she had gotten a bit jealous or something. But, I decided that was just too unlikely. There must be something else up with her.
Then over the next few days she started to mention that we don’t talk as much as we used to. So, I stayed in and chatted to her. Who could blame me, she is so gorgeous?
Then she started telling me about troubles with her boyfriend.
“Don’t worry. He knows that he could never do better than you.” She would smile and occassionally touch my shoulder, sending a wave of excitement through me.
Then yesterday, the boyfriend sent an email message stating that he had found someone else, it was one of her friends. It was the first time I’d seen her cry.
“Ulrika, don’t cry you are so beautiful and smart. You will find somebody else.”
With that she gave me a warm hug and then looking me straight in the eyes, pecked me on the lips. Then she broke away and went into her room for a while. She had gathered herself somewhat and we didn’t say much.
Then as I was sitting on the side of the bed and she was removing my shirt and vest, she said.
“You are a great man.”
Then she leaned in and kissed me again. This time I could her tongue on my lips and I opened my mouth. A few moments later, she removed my top and leaned me gently on the bed before removing my trousers.
I felt her kissing my chest. Then she straddled me, grinding back and forth as we kissed passionately. My penis entered her, best feeling ever. She took my virginity. It was the best experience of my life.
But what happens next, I have no idea.
*******************************************************
What have I done? I won’t lie, I don’t regret it. Aidan is a special man, intelligent, consideration who doesn’t realize how hot he his. As I was putting him to bed, I looked into those beautiful, blue eyes and went for it.
His body was surprisingly firm and he lasted much longer than I thought he could. I loved kissing that hairy chest and rubbing his long, thin arms.
What next?
Who knows. But I know what we’ll be doing tonight.
(If you enjoy my writing, please follow me on WordPress, Twitter @markahern2000 or my markswritingcorner on Facebook)
Mark's Writing Corner 