The Difference Between Vulnerability And Desolation Is Fear | Aphmau AU

Nine/Seventeen

The 16th of November, Thursday, 2017.

It took a week to stand on my own, and four days to walk. My mom was always there during physical therapy now because she said it was like watching a baby taking its first steps, which I suppose was true, and she didn't want to miss it.
   She never freaked out. She never reacted to my swearing. She never tried to interfere. She never got in the way. I think it was because she trusted the doctor and myself. Whenever I fell she did jump, but she didn't help me get back up. Not once.
   However when I was able to walk around the room 5 times (which is approximately 120 metres) without crutches, she did start crying. I smiled and since I could walk over, I did, at my own pace, and hugged her. She hugged back tightly, crying into my shoulder. The doctor left because he was due to anyway, and had actually worked over time to help for free again.
   I started shaking and so my mom quickly led me to my bed and sat me down. "No! I want to stand!" I say quickly, trying to fight to get up, which was a challenge because I had gone weak.
   "Rest for ten minutes, then you can." She said, putting the oxygen mask on as I needed it more. I always needed it for ages after learning to walk because I was out of breath.
   "In fact, I'll tell you what, if you rest for half an hour, we can walk around the garden. Alexander is out there~"
   I stare up at her hopefully. "Really?"
   She giggled and nods. "Man child. But yes."
   "Fine... Can I have Alexander now though?" 
   She rolls her eyes and rings the bell, leaving the door open. When the butler emerged, she asked him to get Alexander, so he hurried off and came back two minutes later.
   The clearly knew where my room was before his footsteps speeded up halfway down the hall, and he thundered into my room and jumped up onto my bed, laying down beside me, panting and also smiling. I smiled and stroked him. He moved to sit up right next to me so I could hug him, so I did, really tightly.
   "Come on then." She said after half an hour.
   I took off the mask and got up, making Alexander jump down and hopefully run to the door. His expression asked if we were going out. I couldn't help but smile at it, and nodded. He barks happily and ran out.
   I didn't run after him, but I followed him. He didn't run out of view and kept making sure I was following him, and then when we were in the downstairs hall, he ran down the hall and scratched a door at the end. When I made it down there, I opened it and watched him run out. The garden went at least half a mile forward, and half a mile sideways, and it had a pool and a lot of garden furniture. Half of it was paved.
   I watched Alexander run around and smiled. I wanted to run too but I couldn't. Instead I found a clean ball by a kennel. There was a lot of other toys but that one stood out. Instantly I threw it as far as I could then whimpered and held my shoulder as it hurt.
   "You ok?" Dad asked. He was on a sun lounger with his laptop on his lap, multiple papers beside him, which meant he was working.
   "I'm fine." I say quickly as Alexander ran back, ball in mouth. He dropped it at my feet which worried me because if I bent down then I'd fall. "Uh..." In the corner of my eye I saw dad staring at me, clearly watching me stand.
   "Here." Mom ran over and picked it up, then gave it back to me. I blushed and kissed her cheek, then threw it again as she walked over to dad. I started to walk down the garden, sure I was still being staring at. 
   Melissa came out and started laughing. "He walking like he's 90!" She was practically falling over from laughing.
   "MELISSA!"
   "Well he does!"
   I felt my tail fall and stop moving and my ears flatten down my head, but I kept walking. By the time I had walked 100 metres I was panting.
   "You ok?" Mom called out.
   "I'm fine!" I shouted, but she was already walking over.
   I grabbed the ball from Alexander's mouth before he dropped it, there it, then clutched my shoulder again since it hurt, which made my dad sigh. "Rachel you should take him inside."
   "NO!" I shout quickly.
   "Come on, Aaron." She gently put her arm around my waist to lead me back.
   Not wanting to be trapped inside again, I tried my best to walk away although I was already. I fell from exhaustion, just making Melissa's cackling just grew louder.