The elastic band trembled between my hands as I pulled it forcefully to the sides. The pain in my arm muscles intensified with each repetition, but I clung to that discomfort like a lifeline. It was a reminder that I could still do something, no matter how small.
"Don't overdo it," Freidis said in my mind, her tone a mixture of patience and concern that was beginning to irritate me.
"Shut up," I muttered through gritted teeth, focusing on the movement. I couldn’t afford the luxury of resting—not when the rest of the world already saw me as useless. Not when she…
The doorbell interrupted my thoughts.
The afternoon was already fading, and the workers had just finished the renovations.
I reluctantly stopped and pushed my wheelchair toward the door.
I recognized her instantly: Lena, with
