In the physiotherapy room Frankie set the brake on Bianca's wheelchair in front of the parallel bars.
"How is your back?" Frankie asked.
"Much better." said Bianca turning in her seat to show she was no longer in pain.
"The price of unnecessary spinal injections." said Frankie; he was not impressed with Bianca in going through with David's experiment.
"I know… I know…" said Bianca, "But it was good to be home."
"I'm sure it was." said Frankie kneeling before Bianca to examine her leg.
He unfastened the brace and examined the scar tissue at the back of her calf.
"Can you put your foot flat on the floor for me." he asked.
Bianca obeyed. Her foot was certainly flexing further than it had been before the surgery.
"Very good." said Frankie. "Now let's see you stand?"
"Yes please." said Bianca, she'd been kept off her feet for weeks.
"Carefully does it." said Frankie.
He supported her as she eased up from the chair and grabbed the parallel bars to help keep her balance. Her left leg trembled as it took her weight. Frankie examined her ankle and straightened her leg. Her foot was still not sitting completely flat but it was a much more minor distortion than it had been and it could be corrected by adjusting her brace and with special footwear.
"Okay, lets sit you down again." said Frankie, taking her arm and guiding her back to her wheelchair.
"But you said I'll be walking today." said Bianca, disappointed.
"And you will be." said Frankie. "I just need fit your brace."
Bianca watched him, but rather than replace the rigid medical brace she had been wearing for a week, Frankie got up and went into the adjoining office.
"You remember this old friend." he said, bringing back her old familiar brace.
Bianca's smile returned.
"I do."
"It will need some adjusting… and we are doing this slowly, in stages…"
"…One step at a time?" quipped Bianca.
"Exactly." said Frankie. "This brace is only to be used in this room until I am confident you are mobile enough not to do any damage to yourself, do you understand me? We have to get this right."
Despite her excitement at getting back on her feet she could see the seriousness in Frankie's eyes.
"I will follow your instructions exactly, just like I did all of last week."
Frankie stared at her for a moment to make sure she was serious.
"I'm not kidding about this." He said as he began to fasten the brace to her leg. "Despite the surgery your musculature has changed and your ankle is no longer aligned as it was, this will affect balance and co-ordination. And with your lack of sensation it will be harder for you compensate. You are going to be leaning to walk all over again."
Bianca hadn't wanted to believe him but he was right. As soon as the brace was fitted Bianca was back at the parallel bars and expecting her left leg to swing as it always did, but her foot wasn't stopping quite where she expected and she found herself stumbling at every step.
"Take it easy." said Frankie as she turned at the end of the bars. "I want you to go a little slower and watch your foot. Don't shift your weight until you see it flat on the ground."
Bianca obeyed, her arm muscles straining as they helped take her weight. She was frustrated. If it was this hard to walk in a straight line how long would it be before she could manage with her crutches?
…