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"He did I was hurt at first but after I thought about it, I understood Getting clean had to be about you Not about us" She lifts her head and wraps both arlad you’re back I missed you"

"I missed you, too You have no idea"

"Are you okay?"

"No"

"Are you in pain?" she whispers

"Every day"

She looks down atI made the choice to walk unassisted today One of theon the physical sy with a physical therapist That’s so but it was just easier to take the pills and forget the pain

I can’t pretend that it’s been easy Several times over the last six weeks, I’ve wondered why I ever thought that I could survive unmedicated But now that I’ve seen howout on, how o back My leg still hurts but I’ve been erounded It makes me focus It reminds me that I’m alive

And it reminds me how lucky I am to be here

Rissa clenches her hands into fists as if she’s trying not to reach out and grabyour cane"

"I wasn’t talking about "

Her eyesback I really thought that ood for each other and that we’re better off apart"

"After everything, all the surgeries and the pain, I struggled for months to come to terms hat I lost But what I really lost wasn’t physical It was you And nothing I’ve done since has ever healed the wound You are the phantom pain that I cannot escape"

"And you are the piece of ain What a pair we make" A tear escapes and rolls down her cheek She swipes it away "We’re a little screwed up, huh?"

I laugh "A little but that’s okay We make each other better Because I know for sure you’re what got otI did each e frorab her hand and lead her back toward the car "Co on a job but so it tonight I was just going in to the office to catch up on some paperwork But I’?"

"Back to es I made"

Jonah opens the door for us and Rissa slides in first Once I get in, she plasters herself againstas giddy as I ah the lobby arrins up at me "I can’t wait to see what you’ve done I’vehere with you"