The sterile light of the magical lamps overhead washed out Owain’s skin. He hadn’t looked in the mirror since his admission to the ward, but the glimpses he’d catch in the bath or in the pristinely maintained windows were less than pleasing.
His physiotherapist, Greg, commanded him around the building for the fourth time today.
“Come on, Owain, you can do it! Make sure to put a little weight on your leg!” Greg was unrelenting.
Owain had barely stopped since arriving. Treatment three times a day, physio sessions between each treatment, and then food. He’d started reading in the evenings, but the days arduous activity tired him out so much that he could only muster a few pages before passing out on the stiff, cheap mattress they’d provided.
“If you make it around here without your cane, you’ll be ready for discharge tomorrow.” Greg gestured Owain towards him once more, standing with a stupid grin on his face at the other end of the hallway.
Owain shook his head, hanging his cane on the nearby windowsill. He looked at Greg, whose earnest expression inspired little more than self-pity, and pushed off. A step, then another, then finally putting some weight on his weak leg, and… Owain collapsed to the floor, gripping his shin as the still damaged break throbbed beneath the skin. All this work with little to no progress had been filling Owain with dread.
Will I ever walk again? Will I ever be able to ride my bike? He asked himself. The travel angst added to his woes. Work was doable on a lame leg, but without his bike the journey would be nearly an hour long each way. The tram had been a no go ever since some jumped up freaks decided to get violent after seeing him and Rhadd hold hands.
“It’s ok! We’ll get it next time,” assuaged Greg, helping Owain up with that same stupid grin painted on his face.
Today's prompt: travel angst
This week's worldbuilding prompt: sickness and recovery
If you'd like to participate too, the contest/prompts can be found here:
@mariannewest/day-1619-5-minute-freewrite-monday-prompt-travel-angst