year

nt off at f

forcing myself out of bed. My body protested immediately, every muscle ac

chedules, physiotherapy appointments,

past with me pretendi

walked down the hallway, stopping outside

he door op

of the cardiac moni

ked almost peaceful, if you ignored the hospital bed that had replaced the one we

," I sai

shifted t

was

han had filled ever

es did all

monitor out of habit before lo

pressur

rate n

le." I whispered to myself

ll vi

take

aside, I rolled up my

task was t

d eventually cause pressure injuries. I counted softly under my breath as I adjusted hi

re w

ing remain

ssive range-of-m

oint, moving his arms and legs through m

ough every session. Now I just focu

pered as I stretche

gers tw

re

ismissed it as nothing

kno

nderstood me or not d

morning care, I administered his medicatio

day," I told him while t

ll stay with you

stayed

't be

t, I ho

-

appened. The building came into view long before I reached the parking lo

l spot and sat ther

an do

her I was convinci

greeted me the moment I stepped inside. It was strange how a place could

ed to drag me back to that night, but

therapist before heading

ing,

rni

om everyone ever since I came back to work after Ethan's acciden

sy

I replied, forc

and handed m

ctice. You'll be helping wi

my way toward th

intly through the hallway while coaches barked instructi

aying out fresh towels, disinfecting the examination ta

opened

ally ca

around the bottl

that voic

y, I

doorway. He looked different

r, m

ar traced the line of his jaw. His practice jersey clung

s were exac

and Unr

ment, neither

t Ethan," he

snapped. "You don't

ened, but he

at right thr

en

N

out sharper th

ologies. Nothing you say is ever

never l

going to a

ugh escaped

se you w

to ask how

me off guard, but it

. "He's still trapped in a hospital be

ettled be

for the briefest moment

ad he h

en't defensiv

, they soun

ted

ars

looke

ts you in

be t

Arthur picked up his stick befo

you ha

arms acros

ave no

ked like he wanted t

y. I didn't realize I'd been holding my bre

s were

they finally steadied. Just hearing his voice was e

n door pulled me b

stepped inside with

change to toda

it withou

led in sick, so I'm moving

t's

over one of the re

er impingement. Rehabilitation

wn to the pa

r Pea

to be som

afrai

early confused

ion specialist, and he specifically

the file i

request

r. You're the best fit." Before I could protest,

y knocks

called. "Mr. Pearson is r

ound the file until the

avoid being alone with the man

ed to spend the n

k echoed thr

oice came from the o

comin