“That’s to be expected, especially given the length from your accident until now and the spinal injury.We’ll have to take our time with things.”
“Will that greatly affect my recovery?”She had asked these kinds of questions before, but now that she was standing, she’d almost forgotten about them.
“It can, but like I said before, it will depend on the amount of work you put into it.I can only give you the tools.The rest is up to you.”
Dr.Shane stepped around behind her and gripped her hips.“What are you doing?”June asked.She wanted to step away from the touch, but she was unsteady as it was; if she tried to pull away, she’d fall for sure.
“Making sure your hips are even.It’s going to cause a lot of pain in your hips and joints if you’re lopsided.”
Oh, that made sense.
Dr Shane touched her hips with a clinical touch, moving this way and that, feeling her hip bones.After a moment, she stepped away.“Everything feels good.How does the socket feel?Loose anywhere or pressing painfully?”
“It feels good.”
Dr.Shane stepped back around in front of her.“Good, now take a step forward.”
“I can’t…” June felt herself panicking.She wasn’t ready to start walking yet.She needed more time to adjust to these legs.This wasn’t like throwing a person in the deep end of the pool to make them learn to swim.
“It’s okay, Niña,” Rosa encouraged next to her.She was a calming voice in the tsunami storm in June’s head.“You can do this.One step.That’s all it is.”
For every encouragement Rosa said, June felt herself relaxing and starting to believe in herself.She could do this.This was why she was here.This was why she had asked her brother to help her and find someone to help her walk again.
June shifted her weight to her left side and slid her right foot forward.She had to mentally tell herself not to look down but to just push her foot forward.She had no idea how far forward it went.It couldn’t have gone that far though.
“There you go.”Dr.Shane smiled.June’s arms began to shake holding up most of her weight.She didn’t trust her new legs enough to put all of her weight down on them.“You can sit back down now.”
Rosa placed a hand on her back and guided her to the seat.“You did so well, Niña.”Rosa beamed at her like a proud parent seeing her child walk for the first time.
“Thanks, Rosa.”June touched her forehead and noticed there was a bead of moisture there from her exertion.She would have to start going to the gym or something to build up her endurance.
“June, you did do very well.I’d like you to come in for physical therapy four days a week to start,” the doctor said as she made notes on the chart in her lap.
“How soon until you think I’ll be walking on my own without a walker or anything?”
Dr.Shane stopped writing and looked up at her.“Like I said before, that’s up to you.As long as you stick to the program and put in the effort, it could be within two months.But I will tell you now, there are days you are going to hate me and want to quit.”
“I’m not a quitter.”Quitting wasn’t in her vocabulary.June would walk again.She wouldn’t give up until she accomplished that goal.
Dr.Shane smiled at her again.“No, Miss Macintosh, you are not.”
Chapter 1
Five years later…
June checked her watch as she hurried across the street to the bar where her friends were waiting.She was almost thirty minutes late.It couldn’t be helped that her last appointment had run late and then she had to find parking.The closest parking garage was two blocks away.
June weaved between a couple and raced into the bar.Her eyes darted around the crowded space looking for her friends Casey, Sue, and Karla.They had all gone to college together.
She had lived in Las Vegas for five years now.Ever since she’d come here to see Dr.Shane to get her legs and walk again.She hadn’t intended on staying here, but she’d fallen in love with the town and the people.
When her rehab was deemed over, June decided she didn’t want to go back to California.Even Rosa liked it here and wanted to stay.They were still close even though Rosa was no longer her caregiver.Rosa had bought a little house a few blocks from June.
After living her entire life under a roof with others, June had been ready to spread her wings and live alone.And she loved every second of it.
As soon as she decided to stay—despite her brother’s protests—June had gone to college and was now a physical therapist.
Dr.Shane had inspired her decision.Well, she and her team.They had all been incredible and supportive.June had talked to Dr.Shane about it while she attended school and was hired on as soon as she passed all of her exams.She had also joined a support group for other people who’d lost limbs.
