It had been a few weeks since Alex bought the new car, and the day had finally come for Norma to have her cast taken off. She was sitting in hospital about to have it removed.
"So how has your leg been doing? Any problems, pain?" The nurse asked Norma as she walked in the room.
"Well I guess so..? But that's normal is it not?"
"It depends on the situation, as long as you mean towards the start of having the cast on then yes that's perfectly normal. But there probably shouldn't have been any pain after a few weeks of having it on. As long as you haven't been doing any strenuous activities, you know...running or jumping, sexual intercourse--" the nurse began.
"Woahh. No no no." Norma laughed awkwardly. "No, you don't have to worry about that. The pain was only at the start of having the cast on, as you said. I definitely haven't been doing any...strenuous activities." her eyed widened slightly in embarrassment, and without even having look to her side she knew Alex was dying to laugh.
"Alrighty then. Well Miss Bates, your leg is probably gonna be a little sensitive to start with once the cast is off, there shouldn't be any pain however it will feel very strange at first." the nurse spoke once again before leaving the room to get her equipment to remove Norma's cast.
--
Properly walking for the first time in 6 weeks felt so strange for Norma. The first moment she stood up she had to grab onto Alex straight away because she hadn't realised how unsteady she'd be. Walking through the long hospital corridors got her used to walking on it again.
On the way back to the car, Norma jokingly nudged Alex. "Hey, your face when she brought out the drill was priceless. You'd swear you thought she was about to cut open my leg!" she snorted.
"That thing was huge! I wouldn't have trusted her with that near my skin" he shuddered.
"You're an ex cop, you don't trust anyone with anything." she rolled her eyes. "They are professionals you know, I think there'd be something seriously wrong if someone got their leg cut open."
"I don't trust anyone with anything, yet i'm trusting you to share a car with me...hmmm" He narrowed his eyes and showed a small hint of a grin, unlocking the car and getting in.
She slid in the passenger seat, looking out of the window as Alex drove. "You know what I find ironic?" She spoke up after a while of pure silence.
"What's that?" he asked curiously, looking towards her briefly.
"The fact that...I never used to trust you. And you never used to trust me. Yet now, you're the person I trust most...and I hate to assume but--" she said, making hand gestures as she spoke.
Alex laughed, shaking his head. "Yes, Norma. You are the person I trust most, don't worry."
She looked at him and smiled, looking back out of the window again with that same smile adamant on her face. That fact certainly made her happy.
When they finally got back to the motel, Norma stepped out of the car, just about getting used to standing straight now. She started walking towards the motel, looking towards Room 11. She looked back at Alex, then back to the room. "Do you have the key?"
"For room 11?" she raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, why?"
"I need to shower before we go inside and see everyone" She gestured to her leg, pulling a face. The skin on her previously broken leg was very dry and peeling. Really wasn't a good luck.
"Oh right, sure...here--" he reached into his back pocket and dropped the key in her hand.
She took the key, unlocking the door and pushing it open. "Wait here, i'm not washing my hair or anything so I won't be long."
