With Charlie keeping a hold of her arm, and using the other to cling onto the rail, Ruby practiced walking for what seemed like hours physically, but in reality, it had only been twenty minutes. The pressure it placed on Ruby's lower back and her legs was immense. She still couldn't fully comprehend how difficult this was going to be. It felt like she was a baby learning to walk for the first time and it was physically and emotionally drainig on her.
Charlie kept a firm grip of Ruby's arm and rested her other arm on Ruby's back, stroking it in a comforting manner as she pushed herself harder to take longer strides. The night of Charlie's birthday was a moment she would cherish forever, seeing her daughter walk to her. It was something she thought she would see her daughter do again. But she did, and she did it for her. Stroking Ruby's back she whispered words of encouragement as Ruby took another step. Feeling Ruby tremble and noticing how Ruby's weight was no dropping into Charlie's embrace. Grabbing a hold of her daughter, she eased her back into her chair.
"Hey, remember when I said don't push yourself too hard? I literally meant don't push yourself too hard. I don't want you do your injury more damage then good", Charlie said as she wiped the sweat of Ruby's brow with a towl. Picking up the bottle of water off the table, she gave it to her daughter and watched as she breathlessly took a few sips before handing it back.
"I know, I'm sorry. It's just frustrating how slow all this is taking", Ruby said stroking her forehead. "I just really want to do this for you".
"Rubes, I love you for that I really do. But I want you to do this for yourself more than for me. The fact that I get to see you walk again is enough", Charlie said, and then she looked down with a feeling of guilt building up inside. "You know, when you were a baby, I missed your first steps. It happened while I was staying at Aunty Michelle's. It's been one of the biggest regrets of my life. But being here, seeing you take your first steps again, as weird as it may sound, it's almost like I've been given a second chance to witness it happen".
"Mum, don't dwell on the past. Okay, lets just move forward and forget about it", Ruby said cupping her mother's hands in her own.
Charlie smiled up at her and then jumped up from the chair she had been sitting on. Running into Ruby's room she picked up a small box with a bow on it and then bounded out of the room and down the hall. Entering into the living room she stopped in front of her daughter and sat in the chair directly in front of her.
"Um, Mum, what are doing?", she asked with a confused crease marked on her forehead.
"Here", Charlie said, handing Ruby the box and sitting back nervously waiting for her daughter to open it.
Ruby looked down at the gift in her hands and then back up at her mother who watched on from where she sat. Untying the bow, Ruby opened up the box and gasped at what she found. Within the box was a silver charm bracelet that already had many charms attached to it. Taking it out of the box, Ruby analysed every detail and then a smile crept across her face and her eyes lit up. Looking at her daughter's pleased grin Charlie smiled back.
"It's...it's beautiful", Ruby stated and then looked back up at her mother, "But how are they're so many charms already on it?".
"I bought the bracelet when I was staying at Aunty Michelle's. I was going to give it to you when you were older...but with everything that happened, I never got the chance. So I kept it in that box and everytime you did something to make me proud, things you showed an interest in or loved, or a milestone in your life, I'd add a charm to it".
Charlie fidgeted with the bracelet in Ruby's hand and pointed out some of the charms.
"This one marks your first day of school, this one I got when you turned sweet sixteen, and even one to symbolize your first love, as much as it pained me to see you showing an interest in boys", Charlie said with a sarcastic tone, remembering how horrified she was when Ruby started dating Xavier.
Unclipping the bracelet, she placed it around Ruby's dainty wrist and clasped in back together smiling at the fact she finally got to see her daughter wear it. And the fact that Ruby loved it so much, made it even more worthwhile.
