Larry’s body was healing, but it wasn’t easy. Recovery wasn’t a straight line—it was a battlefield of small victories and frustrating setbacks.
Some days, he could sit up without much struggle; other days, just lifting his arms felt like moving bricks.
The first time he tried standing on his own, his legs buckled before he could even straighten them completely, forcing him back into the chair.
The physical therapist, a stocky man with a patient but firm demeanor, caught him before he hit the ground. “Easy there,” he said, adjusting Larry’s stance. “Your body’s relearning how to support itself. Give it time.”
Larry’s jaw clenched as he exhaled through his nose, his hands gripping the sides of the chair. He felt weak, something he hated. His body, which once carried him effortlessly th
