Page 106 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

The session begins the way they always do. Gentle mobility. Scapular control. Breathing. Then active motion.

Elise watches carefully as I lift my arm.

Higher. A little higher.

The familiar tightness appears near the top.

Not sharp pain anymore, just resistance.

Healing tissue is reminding me it still exists.

"Hold."

I hold.

"Five seconds."

Long enough for my shoulder to start shaking.

"And down."

I lower it slowly. She checks the angle. Smiles. "Again."

We repeat the movement. Then again.

By the sixth repetition, sweat trickles down my back despite the cool temperature of the gym.

"Excellent."

I lower my arm. "Really?"

She turns the goniometer so I can see it.

"You've gained another six degrees."

"Only six?"

She folds her arms. "I see Annette's optimism is wearing off on you."

I grin. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should."

The rest of the session passes in steady, ordinary work.

Resistance bands.

Wall slides.

Balance drills.

Things that would have seemed laughably easy six weeks ago.

Today...they feel like progress, real progress.

When we finish, Elise closes the chart.

"I'm happy."