Page 27 of Pretty Thing

“I’m very sorry to hear that,” he says, making notes and asking more questions about pain and mobility. He is quiet for a minute and then points to my sprained ankle. “Let’s start with your ankle and work on movements to help build back your strength.”

“Okay.”

Felix stays close by, and I get the feeling he won’t move even if Jonathan comments.

Jonathan adjusts the table so that it is upright like a chair.

“Sit with your back here.” He taps the raised piece. “And swing your legs up straight. We’ll need to remove the boot for this.”

Felix lifts my legs, but when Jonathan reaches for my Aircast, his face darkens.

“I’ve got it,” Felix says, and the room fills with tension.

“It’s okay, Felix.”

He looks at me, and I swallow hard at his angry stare.

“No, I’ve got it,” he says again, and Jonathan backs off.

I’m not sure what to make of the overly protective attitude, but I let it go while Jonathan smiles as if nothing happened. As soon as the boot is off, Felix comes to stand by my side and grips my hand.

“We are going to start with ankle circles. This is a simple mobility exercise. You’ll rotate your foot in a circular motion to move the ankle joint through the full range. Start small, ten to the left, then ten to the right.”

I do as he says. It hurts but doesn’t feel sharp. It’s more like a deep, annoying ache.

“Excellent. You’re doing great.” He counts to ten for me. “Good, now a little larger.”

I repeat.

Then he gets me to do something called an ankle alphabet. I lift my leg slightly off the table and use my foot to trace letters in the air. I only make it to M before I have to take a break.

“Good, now sit up straight and take a few slow deep breaths.” I nod. “Nice, we’ll work on your forearm next.”

Jonathan holds out his hand and smiles. I place my casted arm in his open palm. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Felix glare. But when I look at him, it’s gone, and I wonder if I imagined it.

“Since you still have a cast, and will for awhile yet, I want you to open and close your hand. This is best on a flat surface. Sit at a desk or kitchen table and keep your arm like this.” He holds my arm at a 90-degree angle from my body. “And now slowly open and close your hand.”

I wince as I make a fist.

“Good, but if the pain is sharp, stop. It will ache and hurt, but it should never be a stabbing pain.”

I nod.

We go on like this for forty-five minutes. My brain is as tired as my body and feels just as beat up.

“Okay, that is it for today. I want to see you three times a week, and as you get stronger and regain flexibility, we will add more movements to your at-home exercises.”

Stupidly, I don’t wait for Felix to put the boot on in my hurry to get out of this place. Sliding off the table, I put all my weight on my ankle. Pain shoots up my leg.

“Dammit,” I yelp, lifting it off the floor.

“Eden, it’s okay.” Felix wraps his arm around my waist immediately. “Let me get your boot on.”

I nod.

“Make sure to ice it and keep it elevated when you get home. Try not to put too much weight on it for the rest of the night,” Jonathan says, calmly like he’s dealt with overprotective and worrying men before.

“But…she’s pale,” Felix says. “She can barely stand. Look at her. Do something.”