“I’m tired of you all ganging up on me.” She tilted her chin, looking extremely annoyed. “I’m fine. I feel like I should just get a T-shirt that says that, so you’ll all leave me be.” She shook her head and went back to staring out the window.
I had a strong sense of déjà vu when, twenty minutes later, Dr. Kim’s nurse asked Hannah to join my appointment. Hannah looked pleased as she settled herself onto a chair in the examination room, watching as the nurse asked me routine questions and took my vitals.
When she’d finished doing intake, the nurse grabbed her laptop and headed for the door. “Dr. Kim will be in in just a minute.”
“I didn’t call him,” Hannah said as soon as we were alone.
I grimaced. “Maybe your sister did.”
That made her smile. “Maybe.”
Dr. Kim came in. “Hello, Hannah.” His face split into a grin when he saw me. “Good morning. Wesley, you look good!”
“Thank you, Dr. Kim. I’ve been working hard.”
Dr. Kim flipped through my file, reviewing some notes. “That’s what your physical therapist says.”
“She’s tough. Did she actually say something nice about me? Because I thought she might be trying to kill me.”
“She said you’re handling therapy well.” He laughed, then did a quick inventory of the room. “No wheelchair today?”
I looked at Hannah and quickly turned away. “I haven’t been using it for the past couple of days. I don’t think I need it anymore.”
Dr. Kim folded his long, lean runner’s body down to sit on a rolling stool. He tapped his chin with his pen, considering me. “Did your physical therapist tell you it was okay to go without the wheelchair?”
I could feel Hannah staring at me. “Not exactly.”
“Did the cardiologist clear you to walk?”
I scratched my head.
“Your orthopedic doctor?”
I coughed.
Dr. Kim tapped his pen. “So, yo
u just decided to take matters into your own hands?”
“It was time. I felt strong enough, and I haven’t had any issues. Have I, honey?”
Hannah scowled at me, her arms crossed against her chest.
Dr. Kim turned to her. “Has he been getting around okay, Hannah?”
“He’s doing better than I expected,” she admitted.
“Well, let’s run some tests,” Dr. Kim said. “If everything checks out cognitively, you might very well graduate today.”
“Graduate to what?” I sounded hopeful to my own ears.
Dr. Kim held up his hand. “I’m not making any promises. Let’s see how you’re doing first.”
“I’m ready to go back to work,” I insisted as Dr. Kim came toward me with his annoying light to shine in my eyes.
“Listen to the doctor,” Hannah insisted.
Right before the light got shoved into my eyes, I looked at her. “Only if you listen to yours.”