Chapter 19: Clearance

Nolan's POV

Five weeks after the crash, my colleague cut the brace off Abigail's leg in an exam room on the third floor.

I was not supposed to be in the room.

I had signed her care over to a colleague weeks ago.

That way I could say what I wanted to say to her with no chart between us.

I stood in the hallway with my hands in my pockets and watched through the glass door.

The leg came out thin and pale, with a long pink line down the shin.

Abigail looked at it for a while.

"That's mine?" she said.

"It's yours," said my colleague. "Walk to the end of the hall and back. Slowly. No crutch."

Abigail stood, and her hand shot out for the table, and then she let go of it.

She took one step, and then another.

She came through the door past me with her chin up and her eyes wet.

I walked next to her and kept my hands to myself.

She made it to the window at the end of the hall and put both palms on the glass.

"I did it," she said.

"You did."

She turned and leaned her back on the sill.

Sunlight lay across her face, and she looked rested for the first time since I had known her.

"My colleague will release you at the next visit," I said. "There's nothing more to do here. No more follow-ups."

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