I'm at school, like at college, though not a familiar place. I'm in the smoking section outside when a girl comes into the area. There is only one other person there, and it's quiet. I introduce myself in sort of an awkward way, like somebody has to talk. I say "Fritz, Sophomore in Electrical Engineering", but my mouth fumbles over the word "sophomore" and it takes a couple tries to spit it out. She introduces herself similarly.

I'm in a wheelchair, permanently it would seem. She seems overly compassionate about this, offering to help me get up these stairs. I start to say no, it's ok, but she insists like "come on, you can do it!" and helps me get up the stairs. We both have to work pretty hard at it, and really, I can just go up the elevator. We get to the top - I remember reaching out my last finger on the last stair - and she seems very happy about this. I think she want to push my wheelchair around wherever I go.