《Unfinished》6. Spiccato
Advertisement
"Let's try walking outdoors." Kento suggested. The weather had been pleasant for the last few days and Leah needed to relearn how to manage in various situations and terrain again.
It had been a few weeks since Leah voluntarily moved her foot. From that time, Leah's therapies had concentrated more on her mobility. In fact, just a few days ago, she began lifting her walker independently while practicing walking instead of pushing or dragging it on the floor. Today, she walked with a little more confidence although still aided by a walker.
"Okay." Leah smiled. Her old self was also resurfacing. She complained less and was more determined to complete her therapies no matter how challenging they seemed to be.
"Congratulations! You're doing so well!" Kento gushed when Leah was able to walk independently and more steadily toward the park bench of the hospital.
"Thanks." She acknowledged. "This is for you." They sat on the park bench under a big tree. Leah gave Kento a large paper bag.
"Huh? Ako yung nag-congratulate sa yo pero ako ang may regalo? Di ko naman birthday. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Ang dami naman nito." Kento said, peeping into the bag and seeing several packages within. Seeing Leah's excited expression, Kento chose a package to open first.
"Wow!" Kento exclaimed upon opening the biggest box. It was a puzzle.
"It's a physical therapist puzzle. They say it's challenging to put together. You might even need a PT for attempting it." Leah giggled.
"Hmm. Salamat."
The other two presents were a mug and a keychain.
"Thank you for these but why?"
Leah sighed. "I only have a week and a half left here."
"Huh? What do you mean? May sakit ka?"
"Gagi!" Leah slapped Kento's arm.
Advertisement
"Aray!" Kento laughed while massaging his arm. "Naniniwala naman akong di ka pa mamamatay. Ang lakas mo humampas!"
"Eh naman kasi. Wala akong sakit. Tatapusin ko nalang yung sessions ko dito tapos pupunta na ako sa States."
"Ah. Di mo naman kasi sinabi agad. Kinabahan naman ako sa yo! Dun ka na for good?" Kento said, rubbing his chest.
Leah shook her head. "Masters lang. Natanggap ko kasi yung acceptance letter ko last week lang. Sabi nina Mommy, dun ko na pagpapatuloy yung therapies ko."
"That's good." Kento said. Deep inside, he felt sad. "Sigurado akong mas high-tech ang mga gamit nila dun. Teka, wala akong regalo sa yo."
"Matagal mo na ako na-regaluhan."
Kento cocked his head to the side and looked at Leah quizzically.
"You didn't give up on me. Kahit gaano ako kasungit at lagi kitang tinatarayan nung una, you were very patient with me. If it weren't for your patience, I wouldn't be able to do the things I can do now. Thank you very, very, very much! I am beyond grateful."
"It's my job. I remember asking you what you wanted to achieve after your therapies, and you said..."
"...I wanted to walk again..."
"Yup! Exactly! My goal as your PT is to fulfill your dream. Seeing you succeed no matter how challenging your therapies and tasks seemed to be, is more than enough for me."
"I can't thank you enough for all that you've done for me."
---
The week went by quickly and soon, Leah's sessions at the therapy center were over.
"Bisitahin mo kami ha?" Tricia said.
"Oo naman." Leah replied. "Uuwi naman ako for Christmas e."
Kento quietly approached Leah and gave her something.
"Thank you. What's this?" Leah asked while holding up the paper bag.
Advertisement
"Buksan mo nalang mamaya." Kento said.
After a small despedida party at the center, Kento invited Leah to sit outside before she left. She opened the paper bag he gave her and saw a cute tin mailbox with mini envelopes inside.
"Wow! Ang cute! Thank you!"
"These are notes of encouragement and affirmation for each day of your course...including weekends and holidays."
Kento's statement made Leah giggle.
"Don't lose that smile, okay?"
"I'll see you soon."
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too." Leah said and hugged Kento tightly, fighting back her tears.
---
Checking her messages at the end of the day, Leah noticed that she received a file from an unknown number. Normally, she would ignore, block, and erase the message and number altogether but the accompanying note intrigued her.
"Play this when you feel homesick." It read.
Leah clicked on the link and a familiar tune started to play. Leah smiled. She suddenly remembered where she first heard this song. Music was normally played at the therapy center. Not only did it give a happy vibe to the place, but the upbeat tunes played helped encourage the patients to move and follow the beat. It made a lot of the exercises less boring, too. Kento would usually dance to whatever was playing and sometimes, he would get a grandpa or grandma doing therapy to dance with. The other therapists and staff would sometimes join along but Kento was the liveliest and "star performer". In the beginning, Leah found this behavior weird. She would huff and roll her eyes at Kento. When Kento once tried to get her to dance with him, she squirmed and protested. "Ano ba?!" Weeks later, when Kento tried again when this song played, Leah gamely moved with him. She let go of her inhibitions and fears and just allowed the music to move her that she didn't immediately notice that she was actually standing by herself and (slightly) moving to the beat.
"Thank you." Leah replied.
"You're welcome...Ana."
"How'd you know?"
"Your files. Ana Eulalia."
They spent a few hours texting each other until Leah said she was going to sleep.
"Okay. Goodnight. Sweet dreams."
"Goodnight. Thanks again for the song." Leah replied. She let out one final shriek into her pillow before putting her phone away and going to sleep.
"You're welcome. Goodnight." On the other side of town, Kento smiled widely while staring at his phone. He stood up from the sofa and passed by the piano, running his fingers over the fallboard (cover), before entering his bedroom. "Oh, Anna, can't you tell and see, what you're doing to me?"
-----
*photo from Pinterest
*video from Youtube
Advertisement
The Gods' Chosen Few
This is a story about six summoned humans from modern earth to a world of magic, monsters, and gods'. There are five large cities in four kingdoms. There's the Fire kingdom to the south. Almost completly a desert known for their cheifs, fire mages, and their mostly beastkin kingdom blessed and watched over by the fire god Pyritis. Then there's the Air kingdom full of trees the size of mountains to the east known for their magnificent carpenter's, archer's, wind mages, and mostly elves living there watched over by the air goddess Zephra. After that there's the Water kingdom against the ocaen to the west known for their massterwork alchemy, massive navy, and water and ice mages mostly populated with humans cared for by the water goddess Aquatis. Finally the earth kingdom in the massive mountains to the north known for their expert blacksmithing, earth mages, and being mainly filled with dwarves protected by the earth god Teran. There are temples of healing throughout all the four kingdoms that worships the goddess of light and life Rayanna. There is also a sixth goddess who isn't mentioned any longer due to the zealots killing innocents in her name in the name of Nyx goddess of death and darkness. There is one massive city built on the corner of all four kingdoms where many people live and the kingdoms' kings' and queens' come to meet and conduct political business as well as meet and realx as friends. It also serves on major purpose. It is used to summon heroes from another world. The kings' and queens' have been notified by the head preists of their respective gods that it's time to summon heroes to help quell the rising army of zealots. Hi there ladies and gentlemen. This is my first time writing and uploading a story on Royal Road. I'm looking for constructive criticism and helpful input. I'm looking forward to a long and amazing journey from here on out.
8 161Of Deities and Dimensions
Zackery Taylor was enjoying his life as an E-sport professional gamer, climbing the ladder and respectfully typing 'gg' whenever he lost. Then the Earth received a visit from an interdimensional deity named Akmadouric, who had come to recruit soldiers for his war against that should not exist. In exchange those who fight for him will receive immortality. Who could refuse?But very quickly he figures out that he is in way over his head as he enters a universe of infinite possibility. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- story arc 3 in progress
8 237Second Chance
What happens when God gives an expert who's reached the 7th mythical stage, Deification, a second chance?
8 173Joker's way of life
What will happen if an avid gambler wakes up to see that his world had a massive change. Jack awakens to see a blue screen telling him to prepare for a great change. "Screw this lets go gambling. Gambling is the way of life."
8 186Tethered Souls
All humans are connected to the ether, the realm of magic, by invisible, intangible tethers. Tethers are a reflection of humanity, and etheral magic resists what it is to be human. The more 'human' you are and display, the more your tether constricts, restricting the flow of ether. Utilizing ether draws out the human psych, making it extremely difficult to use ether dynamically and for long periods of time. Burning ether allows a person strength unlike any other, sharpens the mind more than any enhancement drug, and allows the person to directly influence the physical world around them.Hugh Perigrine is unique. Orphaned at the age of 1, Hugh is a ward of the Imperial Empire and an acolyte to the Imperial Library. For reasons unbeknownst to him, he does not experience the world in the same way as his peers. He doesn't care for the war with the rebel armies. He doesn't feel the need to vocalize complaints. He doesn't hunt for gossip and there is no object that he cares enough about to desire. He does not fantasize. He is simply unlike everyone else. But Hugh can see things that others cannot, and he understands impossible forces at work around him. Hugh's entire being is latent with etheral power, and he is at the forefront of what is thought of to be possible and impossible.There is however, something that Hugh covets - the meaning behind who he is, why he exists, and where he comes from.
8 96What he said to me...
what if Deku took Bakugou's advice... and jumped off the roof?
8 168