Chapter 1:
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The usual morning alarm rang into Astrid's apartment.
She woke up lazily and reached for the button of the lousy noise and turned it off.
She stretched and got up, going for her kitchen. She gave her little bird parrot Stormfly, her morning seeds and went to prepare her breakfast.
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She wasn't feeling so well today, probably post period, so she only ate two toasts and drank only a cup of coffee. She made her proteins shake and her lunch box and went to the bathroom to get ready.
She put her sport leggings and a clean blue shirt. She brushed her teeth, brushed her hair and put it in a high ponytail and got out to put her lunch in her bag.
She checked her apartment to see if nothing was turned on. She said goodbye to Stormfly, who replied with a whistle and then left her home, without forgetting to lock the door.
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Her stomach was knotting, making her frown in pain. She put it on the period cause and ignored it. But she couldn't help having a weird feeling. Which was really strange as it never happen before. She shook her head and got into her car. She took a deep breath and started the engine, driving to the gym place.
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Astrid arrived at her locker, putting her bag inside and changed into her workout shoes. She checked in and went into the workout area. She smiled. She loved her job so much.
-"Hey Astrid!"
Astrid blinked and turned around to see her favorite customer. Tobias Domzalsky aka Toby. He was training to lose weight as he was pretty plump but even himself said it was hopeless but he grew fond of working out so he kept coming.
-"Hey Toby. You're early today.", Astrid chuckled.
-"I need to work out before going to work today as my boss had to give me extra hours.", he said while taking a chocolate bar out of his pocket.
-"Toby. You know no matter the workout, if you eat those, it would be inaffective.", Astrid grinned.
-"Meeh, I gave up long time ago. Besides, I have more reasons to come hang out with my favorite coach.", Toby tried to wink.
Astrid couldn't help scoffing.
-"Alright alright. Come on, let's go for the bicycle.", Astrid pointed.
Toby followed her and climbed on one of the bicycles. He started slowly then Astrid paced it a little.
-"Good. You're good. You need to keep going like this for the rest of the next 20 minutes alright?", Astrid instructed.
-"Yup sir!", Toby sais out of breath.
Astrid smiled. He was such a positive person. And his positivity was contagious. He helped kept her motivation every day. She was glad he came by that day, on her first day here. He was her first customer and he made her at ease and with time, they happened to become friends.
-"That's great Toby, keep it like this.", Astrid encouraged.
-"Thanks! I.. might.. do the next.. Boston Marathon...", Toby sais between breaths.
Astrid laughed.
But her laugh stopped when she heard someone calling her.
-"Hofferson. My office.", she recognized her boss voice.
-"Ooooh, someone's in trouble. You know what he wants?", Toby grinned.
-"Hm, I don't know. Keep pedaling. I'll be back in a few minutes.", Astrid said before leaving him.
Astrid rushed to her boss office. She knocked and opened the door slowly, passing her head to look inside, where another guy, that was probably her age, and another very tall man with a long beard stood behind the young man.
She raised an eyebrow and put her eyes on her boss.
-"Uuh, you asked for me M. Ferguson?", she asked politely.
-"Yes. Come on in.", M. Ferguson pointed.
She nodded and closed the door behind her. She greeted the two unknown person in the office and went in front of the desk, waiting for her boss to tell her what he wanted.
-"Astrid, this is M. Haddock and his son, Hayden.", he introduced, "A few months ago, Hayden unfortunately was hit by a car and lost his leg on the shock.", he said a bit more lower.
-"Oh uh, I'm really sorry.", Astrid said.
The young man didn't budge.
-"They although gave him a prosthetic just recently. But as you might have guessed, he will need a re-education to be able to walk again or use his leg naturally."
Astrid nodded but still was confused why he asked for her.
-"I learned while reading your resume that you had a course for helping unable persons.", Ferguson put his glasses on and took a paper that was probably her resume.
-"Oh uh yeah but that was a small one. I didn't really-"
-"You're the only one in our gym that has a little of experience in that area so, you'll be the one doing Hayden re-education.", Ferguson said.
-"Sir-", Astrid tried.
-"Understood?", Ferguson said with more authority.
-"...Yes.", Astrid sighed.
-"Great! You will have a private room so you can have a bit of intimacy.", the boss addressed to Hayden and his dad.
-"Thank you!", M. Haddock reached for a hand and Ferguson shook it.
-"Astrid, will you help Hayden to the yoga room? That's where you will do his training."
-"Now?", Astrid asked.
-"Yes. He needs to start today."
-"But I have customers-", Astrid called.
-"Claire will take care of them. Now please. I need to talk the schedule with Hayden's dad."
-"Alright.", Astrid nodded.
She went to Hayden and helped him stand but he refused and went for the door himself, in his wheeling chair. He left the room without a word.
-"I'm sorry. My son is a bit... frustrated since his accident.", M. Haddock apologized.
-"It's okay.", Astrid smiled, then left to catch Hayden.
She walked past Claire on the way.
-"Oh hey girl, I thought you were training Tobs today?", Claire asked.
Claire Nunez was a coworker but also one of Astrid's best friends. She worked in that gym for more longer than Astrid but was younger than her. She was the one showing around and they ended becoming friends.
-"Yeah well, Ferguson wants me to take care of that guy for re-education. He lost his leg. So from now on, you'll have to take care of Toby.", Astrid sighed.
-"Oooh, I see. Well, I don't mind. Toby is our friend so. But re-education, that's hard stuff. I mean physically and emotionally. You're sure you will be okay?", Claire asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
-"I don't really have a choice so I guess I have to be.", Astrid sighed.
-"Let's face the bright side. At least he's cute.", Claire grinned.
-"Claire!", Astrid gasped.
-"Oh come on, you know I'm right.", Claire teased, bumping Astrid with her elbow.
-"Whatever. Toby is waiting, you should go before he melt. He's pedaling from almost 20 minutes.", Astrid chuckled.
-"Oh my!", Claire pretended to gasp.
Both girls laughed and went separate ways. Astrid went to the back yoga room, where Hayden was waiting for her. She cleared her throat and walked carefully in front of his wheeling chair to open the door. She unlocked it and saw a few material that she will need for the actual training.
She went to the bars and carpet and installed everything. Hayden was just watching her doing it.
She was trying her best to go fast but she only got her toes knocked on the foot of the bars.
-"Damn it!", she hissed, reaching for her toes.
She then realized there was an actual person without a leg in the same room and felt suddenly awkward.
-"I-I'm sorry I-", she tried to say.
-"Don't bother.", he said coldly.
Astrid just swallowed and went back to install more carpet.
-"You don't wanna do this am I right?"
Astrid jumped at the sudden voice. She turned around and saw Hayden looking at her annoyingly.
-"Pardon me?", she blinked.
-"You don't want to help me. Let's be honest.", he sighed.
-"What? No- I mean yes I do. Why would you say that?", Astrid tried to say.
-"I don't know. You don't look so pleased to help.", he crossed his arms on his chest.
-"It's not that I'm not pleased. It's just.. I'm not used to it. I never did this. So it came more as a surprise.", she smiled, trying to sound friendly.
-"Hm.", he shrugged.
Astrid shook her head and finally put the last mattress in place.
-"Alright uh.. let's start it.", Astrid called.
She walked to Hayden and reached to help him stood.
-"I don't need help, don't worry.", he shrugged off her hands.
He leaned on the elbows of the chair and tried to stand. But he forgot to block the wheels so the chair rolled backward and he fall on his butt.
-"Oh god are you okay?", Astrid reached immediately for him.
-"You really think I'm okay?! I'm a one legged dude! How the hell can I be okay?!", he snapped at her.
-"I'm sorry I just-"
-"Save it. That was a bad idea anyway. It's hopeless.", he groaned and crawled to his chair and got back on it, "I'll tell my bad to give up that re-education thing and you'll be able to go back to your life.", he said before leaving.
Astrid just stood dumbfounded, alone in this empty room.
Claire was right. It will definitely be emotionally rude.
But Astrid wasn't the one to give up. It's true she wasn't really up for it at first, but now she couldn't just let him go and live a life with only one leg.
She was assigned to help this guy and that's what she will do.