It was the day that Anne's knee brace would be removed.
She had been going to physio and the movement in her knee had improved a lot
She could even put more pressure on it with help from her crutches.
But she was more than ready to get rid of the brace. It was a nightmare trying to keep it dry and keeping her knee at the same angle was becoming a nightmare.
Anne's PoV: I was terrified. Of course I was excited to be getting rid of the brace but the last time I ever walked properly on it. It had started the whole issue that ended with the surgery.
But Catherine would be there. And it was our anniversary in 3 days. And it was Anna and kitty's tomorrow. So I wasn't going to ruin the day.
I had my appointment at 3pm so I decided to settle down and just doodle for an hour.
Catherine walked into the kitchen to see Anne sitting at the breakfast bar leaning over her sketchbook and doodling away.
She was silent. The only thing Catherine could hear was Anne's pencil scratching against the paper.
As Catherine peeked over Anne's shoulder, Anne jumped as she noticed her. She pulled out her earphones and turned herself round to talk to Catherine
Catherine: Sorry. I didn't mean to make you jump.
Anne: It's ok. I've just been so into this one drawing for over an hour now. My hand hurts so much.
Catherine: I take it the pencil is all over your hand?
Anne lifts up her left hand to reveal it being covered in pencil
Anne: Yep. You got it right.
Catherine: Can I see what you have been drawing?
Anne doesn't want Catherine seeing the drawing she has been working on. So she flicks back a few pages to a previous drawing she did and shows Catherine that instead
It's a landscape drawing. Anne's first attempt at a landscape.
Catherine: Wow Anne! It's amazing!
Anne: Thanks. It's not my best
Catherine: You excited for later? Finally getting the brace off
Anne: I guess so. It's just gonna be weird
Cathrine: I know. But they won't do anything to hurt you
Anne: Yeah I know.
Catherine: You sure you are excited? You don't seem it
Anne is just about to tell Catherine how worried she is about how her knee might be but Anna bursts through the door with two bags full of shopping. And Jane follows her in with another two
Anna: I am never going shopping again
Catherine: Why?
Jane: She's annoyed because I wouldn't let her buy kitty any candy-floss for her anniversary present
Anne: You know what happened last time she had that stuff. She went crazy and then passed out.
Anna: I know I know! But she hasn't had it in almost a year. What's one day gonna do
Aragon walks into the kitchen
Aragon: Absolutely destroy her.
Anne: Knock her out
Catherine: Annoy us all?
Jane: Throw up again and you all run away from it and leave me to cleaning it?
Anne: Jane you told us to go away because Aragon tried to cover it with a towel and pretend it wasn't there
Jane: Well it wasn't gonna magically disappear
Aragon: It was worth a shot
Anna shakes her head and starts putting the shopping away as the other queens laugh about Aragon running away from kitty. Anne closes her sketchbook and gets up to help too.
Even though she had surgery just over a week ago, she hasn't let it get her down. Anytime someone told her to sit down, Anne would fight back and in the end the queens just let her help.
Aragon: Anne have you been in the kitchen all morning? I didn't see you leave after breakfast
Anne: Yeah. I was drawing
Anna: You love drawing don't you
Catherine: And you are pretty amazing at it
Anne: I'm really not. I just doodle a lot
Again before Anne can answer, kitty comes running in and tosses a small package to Anne.
Kitty: This was under my bed. I've forgot to give it to you so many times.
Anne: Oh. Thanks
She carefully unwraps the small package to find a little soft toy of a cat in rainbow colours
Anne gasps.
It's the soft toy that kitty had found her looking at online before she had come out to the queens.
Anne: Kitty. Thank you!
Kitty: It's ok. I wanted to give it to you on your anniversary but I felt like today seemed like a good day to give it to you. With getting your brace off
Anne holds the toy close to her and gestures kitty to come over to her and she pulls her into a hug
Jane: Come on girls. Anne's appointment is an hour and half away and this shopping won't put itself away
An hour later, Anne is sitting on her bed staring at the brace on her knee.
She can't imagine walking around like normal.
She is too scared. What if it's not healed. What if she can't walk on it?
All these thoughts overrun her brain and for the second time in 2 weeks, she falls into a panic attack.
She tried calling for Catherine but her rapid breathing stops her from being able to call out
But luckily Catherine was on her way to get Anne ready for her appointment and was kneeling in front of Anne a split second after opening the door and realising what was going on. She took hold of Anne's hands and made her look at her.
Seeing Anne's hazel eyes red and full of tears made Catherine want to sob. But she had to get Anne calm
Catherine: Anne you need to listen to my voice. Focus on breathing in and out. Slowly.
Anne: I- I can't- I can't Catherine
Catherine: You can. Just like you did last week. You can do this. I promise you can.
Anne takes deep shaky breaths and Catherine kneels up and puts her arms round Anne. Anne hugs her tightly and cry's into her shoulder. Huge shaky sobs.
Catherine can tell she has been holding back. Holding back her tears. So she lets Anne cry.
Anne finally calms herself down and wipes her eyes dry.
Catherine takes Anne's hand and they go downstairs together.
About 15 minutes later, Anne is sitting on a bed in the physio room. With Catherine by her side. Catherine had barely left Anne alone in the past 2 weeks. With Anne having panic attacks, the last thing Catherine wanted to do was leave her alone to deal with it.
Anne's morning in the kitchen was the first time she had been alone. But Anne loved Catherine. So also loved the fact that she spent so much time with them.
Anne watched as the physio removed the brave and removed the dressings over the stitches. Anne prepared herself for what she was going to see. But the stitches were small and neat.
The physio made sure Anne wasn't in pain before putting new clean dressings over the stitches. And then she started to work on Anne's knee. And moving it
Anne knee she would be bending it so just wanted to get it done and over with.
And so she did. She slowly bent it. Tiny bits at a Time. She couldn't bend it all the way but she got well over halfway there. And she was so happy with it.
And she walked on it! She managed to walk a few steps without her crutches!
20 minutes later, her and Catherine were on their way home.
Anne was still using her crutches but tried to put some weight through her knee at different times
Her and Cathrine walked together and before they got home. Catherine stopped and turned to Anne
Catherine: Im so proud of you.
Anne: Why? I haven't done anything
Catherine: You have Anne. In this last year you have overcome so much. And now you are overcoming this too!
Anne: I love you so much. You know that?
Catherine: Hmmm. Yeah. I think I do
They smile at each other and Cathrine leans in and kisses Anne. After pulling away. They continue their walk home. And all the girls are waiting for them when they get home. And Anne is welcomed with a strawberry smoothie.
What she loves so very much
YOU ARE READING
Who I am Part 2 (Parrlyn)
RomanceIt's almost a year later since Anne and Catherine were surprised by the queens. But what will happen now?
