Chapter 4
When Dwight opened the van door four hours later, Elenda didn't bother trying to hide her ordeal. She could have taken a shower or even changed out of her sweaty clothes at the hospital. Her mother's expert training and top of the line cosmetics likely would have hidden how pale Elenda was. None of those things mattered more than getting upstairs and off her sobbing legs.
"You okay, Elenda?"
"I've been better, Dwight. Has the pharmacy delivery made it?"
"Upstairs already. First physical therapy?"
Far from being proud and stubborn, she nodded, took both his hands, and let him pull most of her weight up. Her back joined in the chorus of agony. The shuttle driver met them with both sets of her crutches, the original full-length ones and a shorter set.
Now that she was only wea
