SeveredWing

Chapter 23 New Routine At 6:30am, Shai exits her bedroom ready to take on whatever obstacles Monday may put in her path. She is dressed and ready for her first round of physical therapy this morning. As per her PT notes, she is wearing clean, comfortable clothing that is breathable and soft to the touch: black yoga pants, a much-needed sports bra, and a teal v-neck t-shirt. Her hair is pinned up and back with numerous barrettes, combs, and bobby pins, but, aggravatingly, they still cannot contain the loose curls sprouting in all directions. She'd be lying to herself if she didn't admit she was a bit nervous about her new routine. Xander made the stretches look so effortless, but he is an able-bodied man who does these demonstrations for a living. She is a woman with a bruised and battered tailbone who is performing these exercises without the assistance and guidance of her physical therapist. Still, between Xander's repetitive instructions and her extensive note-taking, she should

Chapter 22 Burning Embers, Flying Sparks Shai wakes early on Sunday in good cheer, the dreamy threads of sleep broken by her high spirits. She clambers over her crumpled duvet and mounds of pillows in her exuberancy to begin her day and instantly regrets it. Pain erupts in her lower spine like a long dormant volcano exploding rock and fire into the atmosphere. Forced to observe greater restraint, she sits up, turns on the lamp, and swings her legs over the side of the bed. Her body wishes nothing more than to express her happiness by springing to her feet and proceeding to her bathroom with a bounce in her step and a twinkle in her eye. But due to the nature of her condition, she will sadly have to forgo the lively pace and settle for a slow progression. There are several elements influencing her mood this morning. The brand new easel standing prominently in her room, the beech wood's pale cream colour enriched by the oil finish. The final sketch of her bouquet propped against the

Chapter 20 Friday Evening: Dinner for Three Sybelline hangs up her lab coat and locks her office door anywhere between 6:00 and 6:30pm every evening regardless of the hour she begins her day. With Shai's appointment concluding minutes after 3:00, she and the general have approximately three hours to themselves before her arrival. Sephiroth has chosen this time to lounge on the couch and read in the warmth of the fire. Shai has iced her back and is now reclining on the secondary couch with her legs outstretched and her head cushioned deep in the accent pillows. Like the general, she has decided to pass the coming hours by reading her novel. Outside, the weather has taken a turn for the worst. A bitter wind rushes from the north ushering in darker clouds abound with precipitation and gales that whip through the city and thrash the rain against the windows. The condo's interior is awash in reflections of wavering greys from the pouring rain streaming down the glass. Shai finishes up a