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Ruby sat alone Upright and alone Her knees were locked together and she gripped the edge of the chair—waiting

She glanced up at the staff, wondering when she would hear her name And then she did And she jumped so suddenly people turned to stare

A unifor a clipboard raised her eyebrows ‘Nobody with you?’

Ruby shook her head When would people stop asking her that?

The wolance over her ‘Follow me’

Ruby placed her weight carefully on her feet and stood There was no pain It was fine It was all going to be fine She followed the wo corridor stretched ahead She’d never been in this hospital before The medical team normally came to the studio But her physician had a clinic here and had specifically told her to co

Since she’d learned that her mind had run and her stoh every spinal, disc and ot out of control It didn’t necessarily mean it was bad news, just because she wanted to see her here Maybe she preferred to do her consulting here Maybe all sorts of thingsaches, the awareness she had that she didn’t want to listen Maybe it would all be nothing

But she had been through all the ood news No one else had been asked to come here She could only hope it wasn’t really bad news

‘Co up when she opened the door, then nodding to the nurse ‘Have you brought anyone with you?’

Ruby stifled the urge to snap at her and shook her head instead

The room was a square sterile box, with aat the back and a desk facing the wall She stared closely at the paper files on the desk, at the slice of coled away to one side She sat down on the chair she was offered—carefully There was no twinge of pain She was going to be given the all-clear She could go back to rehearsals It was going to be OK

‘Your knee,’ said the doctor ‘How has it been?’

‘Since the brace ca I’ve been incredibly careful All the physio and hydrotherapy—that’s made a difference My diet—I’ve followed every instruction I can’t wait to get back’

‘And the other pain?’

‘It’s alone, I think I barely notice it’

The doctor nodded ‘We did some blood tests, as you know, after you mentioned this new pain in your back’