Me-Before-You-by-Jojo-Moyes

‘ … potential. Yes. Potential. And I cannot for the life of me see how you can
be content to live this tiny life. This life that will take place almost entirely
within a five-mile radius and contain nobody who will ever surprise you or push
you or show you things that will leave your head spinning and unable to sleep at
night.’
‘This is your way of telling me I should be doing something far more
worthwhile than peeling your potatoes.’
‘I’m telling you there’s a whole world out there. But that I’d be very grateful
if you’d do me some potatoes first.’ He smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but
smile back.
‘Don’t you think –’ I started, and then broke off.
‘Go on.’
‘Don’t you think it’s actually harder for you … to adapt, I mean? Because
you’ve done all that stuff?’
‘Are you asking me if I wish I’d never done it?’
‘I’m just wondering if it would have been easier for you. If you’d led a
smaller life. To live like this, I mean.’
‘I will never, ever regret the things I’ve done. Because most days, if you’re
stuck in one of these, all you have are the places in your memory that you can go
to.’ He smiled. It was tight, as if it cost him. ‘So if you’re asking me would I
rather be reminiscing about the view of the castle from the minimart, or that
lovely row of shops down off the roundabout, then, no. My life was just fine,
thanks.’
I slid off the table. I wasn’t entirely sure how, but I felt, yet again, like I’d
somehow been argued into a corner. I reached for the chopping board on the
drainer.
‘And Lou, I’m sorry. About the money thing.’
‘Yeah. Well.’ I turned, and began rinsing the chopping board under the sink.
‘Don’t think that’s going to get you your tenner back.’
Two days later Will ended up in hospital with an infection. A precautionary
measure, they called it, although it was obvious to everyone that he was in a lot
of pain. Some quadriplegics had no sensation but, while he was impervious to
temperature, below his chest Will could feel both pain and touch. I went in to see