The Road To Recovery

Chapter 2: A Doctor Checkup

"Well, your recovery time is looking to be the typical time frame of torn anterior cruciate ligaments. By the looks of it, it'll still be a couple of more months though." Her doctor said, looking at her most current x-ray. Zhilan nodded in understanding. "How many more months?"

"It's hard to say. On average, your type of injury takes about 6 to 9 months of healing. Let's see, your first month here was to finish your pre-rehabilitation. That means your surgery was about three months ago? So you could be here another three months, but it could be more."

"But I am still fine? Nothing's wrong?" The doctor nodded. "Yes, of course. As long as you keep with your therapy and don't strain yourself, you'll be fine."
She hummed. At least my efforts aren't in vain.

"Have you been in any pain lately?"
Zhilan shrugged. "Not particularly. It's like having sore muscles. I can manage just fine."

The doctor wrote some notes on his clipboard. "Have you attempted walking by any chance? I noticed you still have the wheelchair here."

She hesitated. "I try to walk with the crutches here in my room. Sometimes, I try walking without. I walk a bit in therapy too. I use the wheelchair mostly when I go outside or when I head to therapy. If I get exhausted, I want a quick way to get back here."

"That's understandable. However, I reccomend you try walking a bit more by yourself and not depend too much on it. You could slow your recovery if you don't try to walk normally with your knee."

She nodded. "Walk more. I'll do my best, doctor."

He smiled kindly at her. "Please, don't worry so much. You're as well as you can be. You'll recover and be out on a tennis court before you know it." He patted her shoulder in reassurance and left her room.

I hope you're right, doctor.

A knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in."

It was her doctor again.

"I forgot to ask, did your physical therapist mention the new patient we'll be getting this week?"

I'd rather forget I ever heard it.
Zhilan tried to smile. "She told me about it, yes. Something about helping him."

He nodded in confirmation. "Yes, we all thought it would be nice if you could show him around and help him adjust."

"No offense, doctor, but is it that really necessary? I managed quite well on my own."

He frowned. "You don't want to?"

She sighed. "Not particularly. It's nothing against him. I just don't think I would be good company for him."

"Well, could you at least try? I know you've been alone for a while. You should take this as an opportunity to have a friend in the hospital. If you find you're still not up for it when he arrives, you won't have to continue accompanying him."

Hesitantly, Zhilan nodded her head in agreement. The doctor thanked her and left.

Maybe, I should hide when that day comes.

Author's Note

Please be aware that I'm no medical expert and I just do what everyone else does: use Google. Also, it might seem a bit mean that Zhilan doesn't wanna have anything to do with the new patient. Despite her loneliness, she's just not feeling the whole new people thing. At least for right now! Aside from that. I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Feel free to vote or comment!
- Violet