He told himself he wouldn't go to Riley's house unannounced, out of respect, but here he stood looking at her green door. His mind was still racing from what his ex said. She must have had the wrong Riley, she was just saying things to upset him. Shaking his head, he knew it wasn't right. He knew his ex well enough to know that she wouldn't have stopped until she found the correct Riley. He knocked on the door, but it was meager. When there was no response, he knocked again, matching the pounding of his heart.

“Can I help you?”

Josh blinked, he thought he was looking a much older Riley. The same eyes looked at him, but her hair was graying, and the toils of life showed on her skin.

“Oh, is Riley home?”

“Yes, are you a friend of hers?”

“Yes, Ma'am.”

“I see, well she's not feeling well so it may be better for you to come back another time.”

“I'm sorry but would you mind if I at least check on her? I haven't been able to reach her, and I'd like to make sure she's ok.”

The woman's face softened. “I think that would be fine. Come on in.”

He followed Riley's mother, trying to brace himself for what he might see. His eyes widened when he saw her. There Riley sat reading a book, in a wheelchair. She looked pale, not nearly as lively as the Riley he was used to seeing and his ex was right, she was underweight. Tears instantly formed in her eyes when she lifted her head.

“Riley, this nice boy has come to see you.”

“Thanks, mom,” Riley replied.

Josh waited until her mother was out of earshot before he spoke. “I'm sorry.”

“What? Why would you be sorry?”

“My ex came here didn't she? I'm sorry for whatever she said to you.”

Riley's eyes fell to her laps, fingers twisted in her hands. “That's the first thing you say after realizing I've been lying to you this whole time?”

“Well yeah, she's terrible.” He sat on the couch next to her. “How? You weren't a figment of my imagination were you?”

Riley laughed and shook her head. “No, it, was me...well kind of me. I told you I wasn't what I seemed.”

The tears broke free from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. Josh reached out for her, gently wiping away the tears. “Looks like this will be your best story yet.”

Riley took a deep breath. “I was in a car accident a two years ago. A man was in a hurry to get home, and he said he just didn't see me. My legs were severely damaged, and I was in the hospital for a long time. The bones healed but they still didn't work right. Something about the nerves the doctor said. After months of physical therapy, I could barely stand up on my own.

The doctors said the likelihood that I'll walk again is low, but he's hopeful given the progress I've made. It wasn't good enough for me. Not being able to go on any adventures sent me spiraling into depression. I started sleeping a lot, and one night, I was looking at myself sleeping. It only lasted a few seconds but after it happened again, I realized that maybe I could walk again. I'm not sure what it is, I've looked on the internet, and I think it's called astral projection, but I can't be sure. I didn't really care either, I could walk again, hell, I could run.

I was so happy until it dawned on me that no one could see me. Well, almost no one. Still, I decided to ignore it because I could do anything I wanted, be anything I wanted. I couldn't even feel the cold on my skin. I found so many reasons to sleep more that my mother and my doctor started to get concerned that my progress would regress. I ignored them, and continued sleeping. I got so good that I eventually could interact with physical objects, but it makes me tired. I thought I would just keep my life like that...and then...you saw me.”

“That's why you were tired all the time.”

Riley nodded. “I didn't think I'd see you again, but after you chased me down, I thought one date wouldn't hurt. I didn't mean for it to get this far.”

Josh sat staring at the real Riley, absorbing all the information her just heard. It was hard to believe, but he was sure he was looking at the woman he was falling in love with, his swelling heart and fluttering stomach told him that much.

“I understand if you don't want to see me anymore. I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to spend your life with someone who lied to you and may never walk again,” Riley said.

He reached for her hand, it was slightly cold but touching her skin for the first time sent a rush of happiness through him. “What I want is to spend my time with you, Riley, walking or not but I'm not going to watch out waste away so you can sleep. I'm right here.”

“What kind of life will I have if I can't even walk?”

“A great one, and don't count yourself out yet. You've done everything you've wanted to do before right? If you want to walk then walk, and if you never do, I'll push you around till the end of the earth.”

“It's easy to say that now,” Riley said. “Eventually you'll see how hard it is and leave.”

“Life is hard anyway, at least I'll get you out of it.”

“Does this mean we're dating now?”

“Yeah, as long as that doesn't sound too complicated,” Josh smiled.