Room 21 - Calum Hood Punk -

Practice Makes Perfect

- Elena's POV -


It's been a month, and I'm practicing how to walk. It's so difficult, because my mind knows what it wants my legs to do, my legs just aren't doing it. Calum and the rest of the boys have been so supportive of me, it's unreal. I do get frustrated sometimes, because it sucks not being able to use your legs. I currently use a wheelchair, but I do try and use crutches from time to time when I can. You know what they say, "practice makes perfect". I've also gone home, but it means that I have to sleep on the sofa as I can't get up the stairs right now. Thank god it's a pullout one. I already managed to sit myself in my wheelchair, so I make my way into the kitchen and grab the cereal I want for breakfast. I then take the milk out of the fridge. And now, the difficult part; I use the bench to stand myself up, and use one of my crutches to support myself as I reach up to get a bowl.


There's movement upstairs, and I try harder to reach a bowl. I don't want help from anyone. I hear the person reach the top of the stairs and panic, stretching just that little bit more. The crutch gives way underneath me and I fall to the floor, knocking the cereal and milk on the floor with me. The person comes running downstairs and sprints straight into the kitchen. Calum... "Elena, are you alright?!" He panics, kneeling down next to me.
"I'm fine," I mumble, trying to get up. Calum reaches out to help me. "I said I'm fine!" I snap. He immediately moves his arm back, letting me get up myself. When I finally do, I sigh. The floor is a mess. "I'll clean this up, you go and relax until your session with the physiotherapist," Calum smiles weakly. I know he's finding this difficult, they all are... I just wish I could relieve their burden of looking after me...


I sigh as I sit myself into my chair, leaving the kitchen to go into the living room. About fifteen minutes pass, and Calum comes into the living room with a bowl of cereal for me. "Thanks..." I whisper. "You don't have to be embarrassed, Els." He reassures.
"I'm not embarrassed," I say sternly. Truth is, I am embarrassed. Who wouldn't be when they fall on the floor and spill cereal and milk all over the floor too?! "Okay, I think we should head to physio now." He says to me.
"Sure..." I nod, wheeling myself into the hallway. Another embarrassing moment now; Calum putting on my shoes. I've gotten alright at walking in physio with no shoes, so now I need to practice walking with shoes on my feet too. Once we're both ready, I use the wheelchair ramp that the boys got for the step outside the house, and I wheel over to Calum's car. I use my crutches to get up and get myself into the car, while Calum puts my wheelchair in the boot. Once he does that, he goes around to the front and climbs in next to me.


"Ready?" He smiles.
"Ready," I sigh quietly, looking out of the window. When we reach the hospital, Calum gets my wheelchair out of the boot and opens the door for me. "Thanks Cal..." I mumble. I use my crutches to get out of the car and manage to get up fairly easily. "I don't want to sit in that Calum, I want to try and walk in." I shake my head. He pushes the wheelchair alongside me while I use my crutches to walk. I'm walking quite slowly, as I've not been walking for a while other than at physiotherapy. When we finally reach the ward I'm meant to be in, my physiotherapist. Kelly, is already waiting. "Elena! You're doing so well," She gasps, giving me a huge smile.
"Thanks! I want to keep trying until I can do it properly," I point out.
"Let's get started then!" Kelly nods. We make our way into the usual room and I go over to the support bars. "Take your time," Kelly smiles reassuringly. I nod and slowly start walking, keeping a tight grip on the bars either side of me.


When I reach the other side, she gives me a smile to show I'm doing well. I make my way back, still holding onto the bars. "Good job, Els!" Calum says quietly, giving me a small smile. I return the smile and go again. I need to try and do this... I let go of the bar, and slowly start walking. I stumble and quickly grip the bars again, just as Calum and Kelly race over to help me. "I'm fine, promise!" I say. They move away from me. I let go of the bars again, and in my mind, I think about what I want my legs to do. Then, I start walking. It's like my legs just magically got their control back, because I'm able to walk back and forth between the bars, without having to hold on. I laugh in happiness and look over to see a proud smile on Calum's face. "That's tremendous, Elena! Well done!" Kelly gasps, clapping her hands together.
"I-I'm walking," I whisper in disbelief.
"I'll be right back!" Calum says, walking just outside the room.