Chapter Two:
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It was her sixth week at the Los Angeles Physical Therapy Center and Sophie really enjoyed the environment. Her therapist, Bethany, was friendly and enjoyed talking about various interesting topics. She was especially impassioned about marine biology and surfing and would talk about those subjects with great enthusiasm.
That afternoon, Sophie noticed a young woman about her age helping a few of the children. So far, she'd noticed the redhead every Friday afternoon. On her Monday and Wednesday sessions, the children was sullen, but on Fridays with this woman, they laughed and smiled. The woman practically radiated hope and cheer.
Sophie was fairly exhausted after spending the last sixty minutes on the parallel bars. She'd been working towards moving without her wheelchair. The goal was to use forearm crutches to walk. She was optimistic about the added independence they would give her. She'd started the exercise back in Paris, but still hadn't told Leon. She didn't want to disappoint him if she failed.
"Who's that?"she asked Bethany as she finished her last turn on the parallel bars.
The brunette physical therapist glanced over her shoulder and then turned back. "That's Sora. She volunteers here once a week. She really encourages the kids." She helped Sophie onto the stretching table. "Rest for a little bit, deep breathing like we practiced. I'll be back in a couple of minutes."
Sophie did her breathing techniques, knowing the importance of strengthening her lungs and keeping a healthy blood flow to her extremities — even if she couldn't feel them all. She watched absently as the last child left and she was left alone with Sora. Bethany never came back.
The friendly redhead started towards Sophie and smiled apologetically. "Hi, I'm Sora. Bethany needed to leave for a family emergency. Is it okay if I help you cool down?"
"My aid won't be here to pick me up for another half-hour," Sophie said. "So, I'm not going anywhere."
Sora chuckled. "I've seen you around here the last few weeks, are you new to L.A.?" She went over towards the sink and washed up thoroughly before coming back to the table.
Sophie smiled warily. "That obvious?"
"You have a strong accent," Sora said. "I moved from Japan two years ago, every conversation I had started with — where are you from? You're not from around here, are you?" She shook her head and her dark eyes twinkled in amusement. "And here I am doing the same thing. Sorry about that."
"I just moved here with my brother from Paris," Sophie said. "Why did you come to America?"
"My parents think I'm crazy, but I'm here to pursue a dream — you know typical reason to immigrate here." Sora began to stretch Sophie's left leg, easily and gently. "America — the land of dreams and opportunity!"
"Your dream is to be a Physical Therapist?" Sophie couldn't feel the hands gently stretching her calves and quadriceps, she knew her legs were receiving a much needed work out by the way her hips moved.
"Hardly. Back home I promised my parents I would at least attempt a normal career. I'm a trained Physical Therapist Assistant, maybe one day I'll become a PT, but that's a doctoral degree in the states and I'm not ready to commit to five more years of college. My dream is to join the circus." Sora raised Sophie's foot to her shoulder and grimaced slightly. "You need to slow down a little. I saw you on those parallel bars. It's okay to take things slow. If you go too fast, you'll do more damage than good."
"Why would you join the circus when you can make such a different with physical therapy?" Sophie asked, trying to hide her annoyance. How could she be going too fast when it had been three years since she walked?
"That's why I volunteer here," Sora answered. "I couldn't give it up completely. The circus is still my passion I saw a performance when I was little, shortly before my parents died, and it's been my goal ever since. My father's cousin and his wife are the ones that raised me. Anyway, I moved to California and auditioned for Kaleido Stage. It was an unusual start, but Kalos has been very supportive. I come here on my day off. It's important to remember who you're performing for, a lot of artists forget that."
It took a moment to process everything Sora said, but Sophie realized she wasn't the only orphan in the room. "I've lived in France my whole life." Sophie gestured towards her paralyzed legs. "The cold winters were becoming difficult, but I still love watching the snow fall." She felt Sora switch to her right leg when her hip shifted. "I've seen Layla Hamiton perform in France. She's really good."
"I apprenticed under her. She's such a hard worker and so talented," Sora agreed. "So, Bethany gave me the rundown on your medical file. An accident three years ago with a hit and run that led to paraplegia but spared you Cauda Equina Syndrome."
"I'm told I'm lucky," Sophie mused.
"It's easy to tell someone they're lucky when you're not in their situation," Sora said. She raised the right foot to her shoulder. "Though the warmer climate here should help. Back in Japan, I worked with a couple of cases where people with paraplegia regained use of their legs once the inflammation in their spine reduced — either change in weather, stem cells, or in some cases acupuncture."
"My brother has taken me to countless neurosurgeons," Sophie admitted. "None of them can guarantee success and every surgery has a risk." She shuddered. "At least now, I can go to the bathroom. I could lose that ability."
"Incontinence is certainly a dangerous complication with high risk of infection." Sora grunted quietly. "Quite the knot here," she muttered. "However, losing the ability to orgasm and appreciate intimacy is just as frightening."
Sophie blushed. Intimacy wasn't something she thought about. And certainly talking about orgasms wasn't in her typical list of conversation topics. "It's not really a problem when you don't date," Sophie said quietly.
"You're a beautiful woman with a charming personality," Sora admonished. "You can't let a little thing like being in a wheelchair hold you back." She gestured towards the parallel bars. "Though, from the looks of things you'll not be in the wheelchair much longer if you graduate to the forearm braces."
"It's more like my over-protective older brother wouldn't let anyone close enough to me. It was my distraction with some boy that lead to this whole situation," Sophie admitted.
The two fell silent.
"It's not quite acupuncture, but this place offers dry needling. I'm trained in it, plus I learned a thing or two about acupuncture back home." Sora held her hands out for Sophie and the silvery-haired woman gripped her hands and sat up. "That's an impressive grip. Gymnastics?"
Sophie didn't correct her with the specifics of her history as an award-winning trapeze artist. "Yes," she agreed. "Could we try the dry needles or acupuncture?"
Sora nodded. "I won't be back until next Friday, but if you don't mind staying an extra half-hour I could do a treatment now."
"Let's do it, this is the most social interaction I've had in a long time," Sophie said. "I"ll just text my aid about the difference in pickup time."
Sora hurried towards a nearby cabinet and began to collect supplies. "If you ever want to come by the circus, I'd love to have you as my guest. If you aren't too busy with school or whatever you do during the day. I can arrange a wheelchair accessible van for you. I invite the kids from here all the time." She returned with a silver tray with various needles on it. "It looks scary, I know."
Sophie said nothing as she watched Sora work. The comment about what she did during the day unnerved her. Back in France, she didn't really do anything other than her physical therapy, read books, and sketch out fashion designs. California was a chance for change. Maybe she should look into some sort of online liberal arts program. Her legs were useless, but there was nothing wrong with her mind.
The amount of needles sticking out of her legs was impressive. She looked like a silvery pincushion. "So," Sophie averted her gaze, she didn't want to stare at all those needles anymore. "I heard Layla Hamilton retired."
"You follow the circus circuit? It's unfortunate, but at least her last performance was truly magnificent and she completed the Mystical Act. Our manager Kalos recruited an arrogant, yet talented guy from France." Sophie quickly stole a look at Sora. The redhead frowned and leaned down to inspect her handiwork. "He thinks he's too good for everyone and won't even spend any time practicing with his new partner."
"That sounds unprofessional," Sophie said, frowning. It didn't sound like her brother to reject a practice session. He was a stickler for training.
"Oh he shows up to practice, but he says his partner must be proven. He stands on the mat watching and critiquing everyone. He claims that just because she did well with Layla doesn't mean she'll do well with him. He's forced a whole audition." Sora huffed and started to remove the needles. "I really don't understand who he thinks he is. He's the new one to our program. Mr. Killian seems to let him get away with anything — that's our owner."
"I guess you've had to work with him?" Sophie asked. She wasn't surprised to hear that Yuri was being so lenient with Leon. Yuri still felt guilty about his role in her accident.
"He saw my practice session on the first day he came by the circus and declared I lacked proper training and technique. I didn't take my role serious enough. He refused to work with such an amateur." Sora finished removing the needles. "Okay, we're going to flip."
Together they moved Sophie so that she was facedown on the table. "What sort of training did you have in Japan?"
"Martial arts mostly, it's what everyone does there. Some gymnastics. There aren't schools for formal acrobatics there, but I know about endurance and the importance of balancing muscle strength with tendons and ligaments. I'm a bit backwards, I learn complicated maneuvers and haven't mastered the basics. I guess you could say I learned to fly before I learned to crawl." She laughed softly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to unload on you. It's just, I have to keep up such a positive attitude at work and he's really been doing his best to chip it away and it's only been six weeks! I think he wants me as sullen and miserable as he is."
"What's his name?" Sophie asked, already knowing the answer.
"Leon Oswald," Sora answered. She started to remove the needles. "Did you know him back in France? He's from there too."
"I know him," Sophie answered, frowning. Her brother wasn't even trying to work with his new circus mates. "He's my brother."
The sound of needles clattering to the ground jolted Sophie.
"Sorry, sorry," Sora said apologetically. "Good thing I already disposed of them inside the sharps container. It would have taken forever to find them all." She helped Sophie sit up again. "I'm sorry for badmouthing your brother, Sophie."
"It sounds like he deserves it." Sophie smiled. "It's been nice working with you Sora. I hope I get to see you again next week."
Sora brought the wheelchair over and helped Sophie into it.
"I'll be here next Friday," Sora said. "Even if your brother pitches a fit about my lack of commitment by choosing to volunteer rather than practice." She shrugged. "We're scheduled a day off for a reason. Besides, it's not like I'm the co-star anymore. I lost my position to a new recruit from China, a former ice-skater. The two of them have more in common, though personally, I think their performances are robotic and boring."
"If you'd like, I can teach you some of the basics. I had the same training as Leon. There is one simple exercise you can do that might help your balance and endurance," Sophie suggested.
"I'm all ears," Sora said. "I appreciate constructive criticism."
"Standing on one foot, for hours on end," Sophie advised. "Once you get that down, try doing it on a moving surface — like a subway or a boat."
"Stand on one foot?" Sora raised a fiery eyebrow. "That doesn't sound too difficult."
"It's not complicated, but it is difficult," Sophie warned. "It's what Leon did to grow stronger when he was a young teenager. The basic techniques are really just about balance and endurance."
"I should have plenty of time for that, it doesn't look like I'll be performing any major roles any time soon," Sora said, pushing the wheelchair towards the lobby. "I'll get you some cool water." She returned with a bottle of water and opened the cap for Sophie before handing it to her.
"Why won't you be performing soon?"
"I may have been the co-star last season, and have completed the previously thought to be impossible Mystical Act, but my role was greatly reduced for this season's Dracula story. It's a shame because I had this really good idea about including a Van Helsing character for some heroic fight scenes, but Leon protested any change to the script. Besides, there was no chemistry at all between me and that insensitive ice prince. He's found himself an ice princess."
"And you're just going to let that happen?" Sophie asked, surprised. She'd never heard of a star stepping back because another star made a ridiculous demand. "If you can perform alongside Layla Hamilton, you deserve the spotlight."
Sora shrugged. "The show is more important than my ego. I'd be just as happy hosting a children's show as being on the main stage." She smiled. "I've almost convinced Mr. Killian and Kalos to let me do just that. Otherwise, I'm wasting away backstage helping with props and whatnot, not that I mind, but I just don't feel this is the right kind of show for Kaleido Stage."
"Technical skills are important," Sophie admitted. "However, a show without joy isn't worth watching."
"Exactly!" Sora agreed. She pulled a cell phone out of the back pocket of her jeans. "I don't normally do this with patients, but I'm going to give you my number in case you need anything, okay? Even if it's just to chat. I know how hard it can be moving to the other side of the world."
"I'd like that," Sophie said smiling. She gave Sora her number and waited for the other woman to send her a text.
The sound of the front door chiming signaling its opening drew their attention. "That's probably your ride. I'm going to the back to finish cleaning and then I'll lock this place up. It was a pleasure officially meeting you, Sophie."
"You too, Sora. It's nice to finally have a friend in this city." Sophie watched over her shoulder at Sora's retreating figure. She really liked the woman and was surprised Leon was behaving so coldly. Sora was quite different from the women her brother had been partnering with over the past three years. He needed different.
"Your session ran late," Leon said briskly, his long-legs eating up the space between them, as he drew near. "Your aid had to go home so she gave me a call." His pale lavender eyes scanned the empty facility. "Are you the only one here?"
"My therapist stayed late for me," Sophie explained. She wasn't sure if Sora would want to see Leon. It sounded like this place was her escape from him.
Leon nodded. "I appreciate that kind of dedication. So few people practice it these days." He stood behind her wheelchair and started to push her towards the door. Sophie breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to keep the two separate.
"So how was practice?" Sophie asked.
"Pointless," Leon grumbled. "Half the cast took the day off — including the one I told you about. She has no drive and little talent. She had these ridiculous ideas, but I shot them down quick. She's only the understudy now, so it shouldn't matter."
"I doubt if she's talentless," Sophie argued defensively. "She performed the Mystical Act with Layla."
"I don't know how," Leon muttered. "She has no discipline, she—…" He was silent as they crossed the sidewalk to the handicap parking space where his silver Mercedes SUV waited. "How do you know about the Mystical Act?"
"The Internet allows even recluses like me to be up to date," Sophie explained. She hadn't actually watched the performance, but now she planned to after meeting Sora. Maybe she could offer her some helpful critiques if she saw her form and stance.
"Anyways, I don't want to talk shop." Leon helped her into the front seat and then carried her wheelchair to the back hatch. He collapsed it down and then placed it inside. He started the engine and then paused when the door to the facility opened. "I should go thank your therapist for staying late."
Sophie reached over for his arm. "Let her be, she's a private person." Leon turned towards her, with an uncertain expression. From the corner of her eye, she saw Sora heading down the sidewalk away from them.
"If you insist," Leon finally answered. He checked his mirrors before turning into the street and starting back towards their apartment. "Would you like to go to the beach in the morning? I don't have to be at practice until ten."
"Sure. I enjoy the ocean breeze and the morning sun on my face," Sophie relaxed in her chair and looked out the side window.
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It was silly, but Sora tried Sophie's suggestion. For half the subway ride home, she stood on her left foot and the other half on her right foot. It actually was pretty challenging. It might be a more challenging activity on a bus, so she'd be sure to try that later. It took forty-five minutes to get back to the dorms, but it was worth getting home so late. She enjoyed working with the children, but with Sophie she'd had a chance to just be Sora — not the overly optimistic always cheerful Sora.
She just found it hard to believe sweet, kind, intelligent Sophie was related to the Ice Prince.
No sooner had she entered her bedroom, there was a knock on the door. Rosetta stood outside with a notebook in her hand. "Can we talk?"
"Sure," Sora ushered her inside. "Are you working on something?"
"Our Mermaid show," Rosetta answered, grinning broadly. She shucked off her shoes and flew onto Sora's bed. She opened the notebook up and started showing off various illustrations. "I took the ideas we've been throwing out this past week and got with Anna, Ken, and some of the others. I think if we present an idea this well thought out Mr. Kalos will listen and maybe he can convince Mr. Killian."
Sora felt her heart swell as she went over the ideas Rosetta had drawn out. The costumes and set designs were exactly how she envisioned them. "It looks fun and playful and magical." Her eyes welled with tears as she could imagine young girls and boys enamored with such a performance. She flipped past the last of the mermaid ideas and came across the image of a herself as a female warrior from the late nineteenth century with a low-cut peasant blouse, skin tight pants and high boots that went past the knees. A sword was in her hand and a dark shadowy figure was retreating the corner of the page.
"It's the Van Helsing idea for Dracula. Everyone on the crew, aside from Leon and May, think the idea is amazing and exciting." Rosetta shivered. "The show is too dark and depressing. I feel like my cat just died every time I see it."
"Practice doesn't start until mid-morning. Why don't we go visit Kalos first thing and run this by him," Sora suggested. "Maybe we can flesh out the details a bit more."
Rosetta took the journal back and turned to another page. It was male version of Van Helsing that closely resembled Yuri Killian. "And as an alternative, maybe we could tempt our illustrious owner to participate."
As much as she'd like to be the ones crossing swords with Leon, it would be rewarding to see Yuri do it as well. "Layla did say that Mr. Killian had a bit of an ego. He just might go for this!"
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"What are you watching?" Leon asked. He entered the study and deposited a community college catalogue on her desk. "Here's the book you requested." He set her purple and pink star mug on the coaster.
Sophie paused the screen. "I was just watching some of the Kaleido Stage performances." She picked up the mug and enjoyed the sweet taste of hot chocolate.
Leon peered over her shoulder. "Layla's last performance?"
Sophie tapped the screen on the other figure, the redhead. "I'm more interested in her."
"Oh. Her," Leon backed away. "She's an amateur."
"I don't know, I like her style." She resumed play on the performance. "She's fun to watch."
"Fun is for children," Leon huffed.
"You realize most of the people that attend the circus are there to have fun," Sophie pointed out. "I'm planning to attend tomorrow's practice, maybe you can give me a ride after we visit the beach?"
"You'll be stuck there all day," Leon warned.
"Not a problem." She gestured towards the catalogue. "I have plenty of reading material."
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