On Monday morning Bianca reported as always to the hospital for her physiotherapy. Frankie greeted her with a bright smile.

"So how was your weekend?"

"Very good thank you... but I want to get on with the work at hand… if that's okay?"

"Namely walking." suggested Frankie, seeing the determination in her eyes.

"You know it." said Bianca with confidence.

Frankie turned back to his office and brought out her brace.

"Then we had better get started."

…

Once Bianca was up at the parallel bars she tried to remember her new centre of balance.

"How long until I am back on my crutches?" she asked.

"When you can walk to the end of the rail and back without a stumble then we shall talk about it."

Bianca pursed her lips and looked at the distance ahead; then that was her goal for today.

Her first step was slow and purposeful, trying to remember the new stretch and bend of her numb left leg. Once she was confident her foot was settled she took a step forward with her right foot and then shuffled up her hands. She repeated the process with care the second… the third… the fourth time… But by the time she got to her fifth step the end of the bar seemed so much closer she hurried her pace, the fifth step landed as she thought it would… and the sixth even though she was putting much less focus on her foot and more focus on her goal. The seventh step… He foot hadn't placed at all and without looking to check Bianca shifted her weight onto nothing… her left foot shot out backwards beneath her; she lost her grip on the rails and fell to the ground with a thump.

"Are you okay?" Frankie asked rushing quickly to her side.

"I'm fine." said Bianca sitting up.

In truth the mats had taken the brunt of the fall. Bianca was more annoyed at herself than anything thing else.

"What have I said?" asked Frankie, as her helped her rise and grasped the rails again. "Slow and steady wins the race…"

"I was almost there…" Bianca groaned.

"Almost isn't there. You were doing very well until you started rushing. Now try again."

"Slow and steady?"

"Slow and steady…" said Frankie."

Bianca tried again, even though to her slow was too slow. She wanted to be up and about again, she wanted to get married and walk down the aisle. But this was hard… if she couldn't cope on the rails there was no chance she would manage on crutches.

This time Bianca made it to the end and turned back.

She tried to keep the slow steady pace. Frankie was constantly offering encouragement or a warning if foot was dragging and not lifting.

In the end Bianca did indeed manage to get from one end of the bar and back without a trip or stumble, but by that point she was so exhausted she no longer had the energy or inclination to ask about her crutches again.

Once she was back in her wheelchair, Frankie removed the brace, feeling around Bianca's calf as he did so.

"You know it might be worth trying you on a different exercise regime now your scars are all healed up. So I want you in the pool for our next session, we can try and build up your muscles more it might make walking easier and your recovery quicker."

"Yes please." said Bianca smiling at him.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow and bring your swim suit."

…

It was only on the drive home that the sense of achievement set in. She had walked to the end of the bar and back without a stumble… she had done it! Now if she could do it every time, then that… that would be progress.

…