Broken Tides

Chapter Five

The people at the physical therapy center where really nice. The place was too, at least from what I've seen. luckily we had enough money from Kat being one of the only salon owners in town, our inheritance from my dad's 'passing', and my mom and Kat's parents passing. It was kind of sad, but it was still nice. Not to mention me dodging college, and just working since I was seventeen.

The place was basically a decent sized gym. It had a yoga/training room, a small gym with low impact equipment and pool room. The pool was nicer than the outdoor pool I gave swim lessons in, but it didn't look as fun. I excepted the whole place to be white and medical looking, and in some areas it was, but it was actually quite nice. Which made sense because this place was designed for more then elderly patients, and tried to be more inclusive to younger people and children going through stuff like me.

They actually had me change, luckily the staff where nice enough to let me do it on my own. I felt really weird about the door being cracked open in case I needed help. The suit they gave me was more like a wrestling singlet, with shorts, instead of a more femininely shaped body suit. Thankfully it had tank top like sleeves, I always felt like I looked weird in short sleeves.

The goal of this session was mainly to 're-learn' how to use my legs, and get some strength back into my legs. They didn't want me to practice walking or standing too much just yet. Most of what was happening was having me, and a few of the other patients, lift themselves with their arms and kick their legs.

'Easy enough' I had thought to myself, and for the most part it was. I found it easy to support myself in the water. Which wasn't weird considering my previous experiences. Kicking took a minute, but I found it better to just swing my legs from my hips.

One of the younger kids there - a little girl, maybe 7, seemed really scared. "Please don't make me!" she cried clinging to her mother. The other nurses coaxed her into the water, placing her across from me. she whimpered as she clung to the bar with her little arms.

I couldn't help it. I felt bad for her. I propped my arms down so I was leaning on the bar. Reaching my arm and hand out to her, as if to shake her hand, I smiled. "My name's Marlowe."

She sniffled, and didn't return the handshake. "I'm Milly."

I laughed which she seemed to loosen her up a little. "We both have 'M' names! we should call ourselves 'M&M' like, the candy!"

Milly smiled. "Yea! Although- I like Skittles more."

"Me too, but my favorite are peach rings." I titled my head. "If you grab the bar like this," I demonstrated what the nurses showed me. "and kinda swing your hips, you can get some momentum."

She copied me, less afraid. "What's momomenum?" she struggled to say the word.

Chuckling at her attempt I explained. "Momentum. Speed, movement. like if you roll a ball down a hill and it gets faster and faster."

"Ooohh." she replied. She looked like she was trying to swing her legs, but she was more shaking her shoulders.

I looked around for a nurse to help her, but they were off helping an elderly woman who couldn't grip the bar correctly and a young teenage boy who was just arriving. As nice as this place was they were unfortunately short staffed.

"Okay, Milly. look how my arms are straight and stay where they are when I move?"

She seemed to understand but still frowned. "Yeah, but your arms are bigger than mine."

I smiled, trying to mask a bit of frustration "Yes, but you can do that too. Remember, we're working on trying to pretend to swim, right?"

She nodded.