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Walking
December 1945 — EmikaEmika gripped the crutches and propelled herself forward. The brace on her right leg jangled. She struggled to straighten her leg, the muscles tight with the movement.
“Wonderful,” the nurse said. “Now take three more steps.”
Gritting her teeth, she took another step and paused for a breath. She followed the same routine each day, trying to walk with a crippled leg. The polio virus had attacked her body, and as the nurse explained it frightened her legs so much, they didn’t want to work anymore. So each day, Emika would concentrate on telling her legs not to be afraid and taking one painful step at a time to show the nurse how brave she could be.
The physical therapy stretched her muscles, and sometimes Emika cried out when her legs throbbed during the
