Boundless Love

A New Year

Charlotte's POV...

This was probably the best Christmas I've ever had. Levi and I had a quiet Christmas Day dinner with only his parents and mine. We took the entre day off from any therapy and any work. I felt guilty about it, but we both deserved a day off after everything we accomplished over the last few weeks; we're drained.

Having both sets of parents together with us for Christmas wasn't as awkward as I anticipated. Everyone got along quite nicely. The food was delicious, thanks to both our moms, and the aura very relaxing.

Levi was eager to get back to rehab the next day though, he wanted to get started on his next plan. When we got there, he dragged me into the gym, but not before requesting I bring both forearm crutches with us.

"I want to start walking with my crutches," he insists.

"Hook me up to the ceiling harness and let me try the crutches," he impatiently demands.

"I think you might be getting ahead of yourself," I try to tell him but he ignores me. I think he needs to gain more strength in his hips and left arm so he can better balance himself when he steps, but he's adamant about using the crutches, so I do as he wishes and attach him to the harness and watch him grip the crutch handles.

He does fine standing there, leaning his weight forward on the crutches. Taking a step is a whole other story. Apparently, he wants to try this himself with only the harness holding him.

I stand behind him, waiting for him to ask for my help which never happens, instead he stubbornly tries to move his crutch forward and takes a step.

"What the hell," he huffs.

He loses his balance, and his hips sway out of control each time he moves one of his crutches or takes a step. If it weren't for the harness holding him up, he'd be falling on his face.

I refuse to watch him do this to himself any longer and grab hold of his hips, steadying him while he regains his composure. Neither of us move or say anything, and after about a minute, he releases a loud sigh and lowers his head down in defeat.

"Thank you," he mumbles. "I must've looked like a fool to you just now," he sighs again.

"Of course not, Levi! Don't ever think that! I commend you for trying this on your own, but you do need to let me help you succeed at this," my voice stern so he takes me seriously.

"I'm never going to be able to do this on my own, am I? I still don't have power trunk control even after the stem cell therapy." He uses his shoulder to wipe his eyes. I stay behind him holding him steady.

"You're not allowed to give up on me now, you can do this, one step at a time," my voice remains confident even though my heart wants to cry for him.

I keep a firm hold on his waist while I teach him how to use the crutches properly for the first time. There's a lot of moving parts here which requires more focus on each arm and leg, plus being able to stand upright.

"The parallel bars are stationary, and crutches require you to use your arms to walk and for support at the same time. So while you're still improving on your balance, you'll use the crutches a little differently."

"Okay, what should I do?"

"First, you're going to move both crutches forward slightly at the same time." He looks back at me and where my hands are. "I've got you, go ahead and try it."

He lifts both crutches and moves them forward, planting them back onto the floor a foot in front of him. Between and harness and my grip on him, he's able to do this part, no problem.