What should've been

Recovery

December 18th 2027

Lena was sitting in the physical rehabilitation center waiting room with Rory

"Why are you nervous?" Lena asked

"What?" Rory snapped out of her thoughts

"You're playing with your necklace" Lena said "you always do that when you're nervous"

"Oh...I don't know" Rory said

"Are you Lena?" Someone asked

Lena nodded

"Great. I'm Philip, I'll be your physical therapist" Philip said "if you'll follow me, we can get started"

Rory and Lena followed Philip to a big room, full of equipment.

"Its been 6 weeks since you got hurt, right?" Philip asked

"Yeah" Lena said

"I'm gonna get this cast off and then we can get started" Philip removed the cast from Lena's leg and started examining it "since you're a serious athlete and the goal is to get you back to soccer as soon as possible I think the best thing to do would be to put you in an air cast, or a walking boot. You'll come here 5 times a week and I'll also give you some stuff to do at home. But just to be clear you won't be putting any weight on that leg just yet"

December 29th

Lena was standing between 2 metal railings

"Alright" Philip said "go ahead and try putting some weight on that leg"

Lena took a very wobbly step, while holding onto the railings with both hands.

"Does that count?" Lena asked with a big smile on her face

"It does" Philip nodded "keep going"

Over the next 2 weeks Lena practices walking with the air cast on until she could to it with very little support from the crutches.

January 13th 2028

"Philip, look!" Lena called out to Philip as she walked into the physical therapy room, using only one of her crutches

"Nice!" Philip smiled "do it without the crutch"

"What?" Levees eyes went wide

"You heard me" Philip chuckled "give it to your dad and walk by yourself"

Lena handed her crutches to Logan who was holding the other one and took a few steps

"Good. Take the boot off" Philip said

"Really?!" Lena asked, excitedly

"I don't think you need it" Philip told her "go without it for a week, but use the crutches at school. If you're not in pain when you walk normally...we'll give running a try"

January 22nd

"You have an appointment tomorrow?" Philip asked at the end of Lena's physical therapy session

"Yeah" Lena nodded

"Bring some running shoes"

February 12th

"Grab your rubbing shoes" Lena poked her head into Daniel's room

"What?" Daniel pulled his headphones out of his ears

"Were going to the track, get ready and be in the car in 5 minutes"

20 minutes later Lena and Daniel were at the running track.

"What are we doing here?" Daniel asked

"We're gonna race" Lena told him

"Why? We both know you're faster"