Chapter 23 - Emma Walks Again
The cast came off after weeks.
Emma hated her leg.
It looked thinner.
Pale.
Weak.
Physical therapy began.
She cried the first time she tried to walk without crutches.
“I can’t.”
“You can’t yet.”
“Same.”
“No.”
Her therapist smiled.
“Your mom is right.”
Emma glared at both of us.
Progress was slow.
Then faster.
By autumn, she walked normally.
By winter, she returned to beginner dance.
Not because every injury needs inspirational comeback.
Because she still liked dancing.
She was not as flexible at first.
She hated balance turns.
Then one day I watched through studio glass as she completed a simple sequence and smiled at herself in the mirror.
I cried.
Quietly.
She caught me.
Later:
“Mom, you’re embarrassing.”
“Excellent. We’re normal again.”
Tyler and Emma began exchanging occasional messages.
Mostly memes.
No forced cousin reunion.
Rachel remained no contact.
Mom remained no contact.
Dad had one supervised visit when Emma was eleven.
She chose it.
He cried.
She did not hug him.
May you like
He did not ask.
That mattered more than the tears.
