Straight Lines, Not a Straight Spine

Chapter 5:

Song choice: "Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato

I waited again in the stretchy white undershirt. My knee-length, dark blue shorts and new grey and white striped shirt lay on the exam table thing.

The orthotist walked in with the – my - brace. The plastic looked like the apricot colored Crayola crayon. The padding was bright white. Three Velcro straps were in the back, and across from each one was something for the Velcro to go through, held on by a screw and a washer (I don't know my tools, but I know I know that one). I was small looking, like me.

The orthotist handed it to me, and I anticipated for it to be heavy. I had read that in "Braced". I was wrong; it was actually pretty light. I wrapped it around myself. The "window" was awkward, and the material that would be straightening my spine dug into my armpit.

"Bend your knees slightly so I can tighten these straps." The orthotist instructed.

I did, and he tightened the straps pretty tight. But it felt so . . . dare I say, perfect?

I walked around a bit, and I sat down in the chair next to Mom. The orthotist took it off me, muttering that he needed to trim some things.

In the other room, I could hear a chainsaw or something. I decided that was what the orthotist trimming my brace.

He came back and put the brace back on me. I walked around and sat in the same chair again. It was now a "perfect" fit, and the orthotist marked where I should aim to pull the straps each day.

He told me to wear it for an hour or so today, and increase my hours each day. I breathed again, with difficulty, and nodded. He told Mom to call and come back if there are any issues. I hoped there wouldn't be, but if there were any, I wouldn't be saying anything unless it was that pressing.

I wore the brace for three hours that day. I increased it every day (except for the day we saw "Wicked" for Mom's birthday, it was great). On an unrelated note, I sleepwalked on a vacation down the shore and looked like I was wearing my brace when I wasn't, so who knows. I had some trouble sleeping in it the first few nights, but I eventually got used to it.

First, I want to apologize for last chapter's rant that I made at the end. I know you must not care if you made it here, but I want to apologize. This is where I rant, because I don't know who I would rant to. I hate being public about my problems. That is, where people can hear me. So, I'm SO SORRY! Please keep reading my amazing readers.

Speaking of reading, thank you so much for 41 reads! Please recommend to your friends so i might get to 50!

Tomorrow is the last day of school for me and I'm actually starting to get sad. I actually had great teachers this year. And, even if the building was the seventh layer of hell, I'm really sad.

This sadness also mixes with my anger that I was not given an award for my perseverance! I don't want to make the awards ceremony about me, but suffering eight months in a back brace is hard work.

Sorry if any of that paragraph was offensive, I apologize. I also want to apologize for my last chapter again, I hope you can forgive me.

I want to also say that if anyone is suffering from anything, I can help. Please message me because I don't like unhappy people. I made this story to help everyone not feel alone.

Thank you, see you Monday!