Chapter 21 - The First Visit
Public garden.
Forty-five minutes.
Me present.
Bernice arrived early.
No gifts.
Good.
Elodie wore sneakers and a yellow cardigan.
No oxygen.
Her post-surgical recovery had gone well.
Not miraculous.
Regular cardiology follow-up.
Some exercise limits initially, later eased.
She still tired more than peers for months.
Bernice saw her walking toward bench.
I watched my mother’s face.
The old temptation:
She can walk.
She stopped herself.
“Hi, Elodie.”
“Hi.”
“Can I hug you?”
Elodie thought.
“No.”
Bernice swallowed.
“Okay.”
We sat.
Bernice asked about school.
Elodie showed drawing.
No medical questions.
Then after twenty minutes:
“Can we walk to fountain?”
Bernice looked at me.
I looked at Elodie.
Elodie said:
“I can.”
The phrase that had once been weapon.
Now choice.
We walked slowly.
At fountain Elodie became tired.
“Sit.”
Bernice immediately pointed toward bench.
Then stopped.
“Would you like to sit?”
“Yes.”
Better.
Language.
Tiny.
May you like
Huge.
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