Only You

Where Fear Once Lived

A/N: A longer one than usual today, hope you all enjoy ❤️

Florence's POV

There was a mark on the floor. A barely-there scuff in the linoleum. Just a small, pale grey streak near the base of the parallel bars where I'd been learning to stand on my own two feet. I focused on it like it was the only thing keeping me upright. The bars felt cold in my grip, but my palms were sweating. My feet were planted, knees locked, and Craig stood just behind me like always, one hand hovering near my back, the other near my elbow, never touching, just... ready.

"Whenever you're ready Flo" he said gently.

Ready. Right.

I wasn't sure you ever really felt ready to walk again after being told you might never do it. But here I was. On my feet. And ahead of me was just... space. A few feet. A short walk. But it felt like the most impossible thing in the world.

I breathed in through my nose. Out through my mouth.

Then, slowly- so slowly, I shifted my weight forward.

It was like trying to move through sand. My thigh muscles burned and ached, my feet felt like they weren't really there, like they'd gone numb and I could barely recognise that they were in contact with solid ground. My knees did this weird thing where they wanted to fold backward, and I clenched every part of myself to stop them from giving out.

"Keep going" I heard Leah whisper excitedly from somewhere to my right. Her voice soft and breaking, like she was afraid saying it too loud might knock me off balance.

My foot dragged a little. The second step was worse. I didn't know if I was walking or falling forward with no rhythm.

But I moved.

And then again.

And again.

It wasn't graceful. It wasn't smooth. My body felt disconnected from itself — like a puppet re-learning where its strings had been cut, or a baby deer stumbling around on ice.

But when I reached the far end of the bar and looked up...

There she was.

Leah.

Tears in her eyes. Hands over her mouth. Like she couldn't believe it.

"You did it" she breathed.

I couldn't even speak. Just panted, legs shaking, tears rising hot behind my eyes.

She surged forward, catching me just as I stumbled into her arms. For a second, I let myself cry there, not from pain or even pride, but just relief. The kind that seeps into your bones and makes everything feel heavy and light at once.

Later, Craig sat me down gently and placed a file in my lap. "Florence, your progress has been nothing short of remarkable. Based on your scans, movement, and response, we're officially clearing you to complete the rest of your rehab from home. One session a week here with me. The rest, on your terms."

Home.

It sounded like a word someone had dropped into my stomach like a heavy stone.

Leah squeezed my hand, completely thrilled. "This is amazing, bubs. You're going to be home. In our own bed. No more bad food, no more 5 a.m. blood pressure checks. It's perfect."

But it wasn't.

It didn't feel perfect. It felt... impossible.

Because "home" meant that apartment.