Page 33 of Dark Awakening: New World

It was a strain to hold the spray nozzle over his head and then move it around his body to reach all the places he needed to be cleaned. The soap dispenser was thankfully within reach, and Ell-rom took care to soap every part of his body and then wash the soap off.

"Ell-rom?" Jasmine called from behind the closed door. "Are you okay in there?"

"I'm perfect. I'm just finishing my first independent shower."

"Be careful, will you? Don't you dare slip on the wet floor and break something."

"I'm being very careful, and I am holding onto the bars all over this bathroom. Can you do me a favor, though? I need a fresh set of clothes. Julian said that there are plenty of them in the supply closet."

"I'm on it. Just don't move until I'm back."

He had no intention of staying seated on the stool and air drying. There was a big, fluffy towel hanging outside the stall that called to him.

"I'm just going to brush my teeth," he called out.

"Be careful. Please."

Wrapping himself in the towel, Ell-rom stood in front of the mirror and leaned against the vanity for support. He reached for the toothbrush and the toothpaste and squeezed out a little of it on the brush like he had seen Julian do.

As he brushed, Ell-rom studied his reflection. The face staring back at him was still unfamiliar, but he was starting to acknowledge it as his own. His head was nearly bald, with a fuzzy growth of dark hair, but he didn't mind the look. Perhaps he would keep it that way.

A knock on the door interrupted his musings. "Ell-rom?" Julian's voice came through. "I've got clothes for you."

"Come in," he called, making sure his towel was secure around him.

Julian entered with a bundle of folded clothing in his arms.

"Well, look at you." He grinned. "Congratulations on your first independent shower." He put the bundle on the counter next to Ell-rom. "Just don't get too confident. Falls can be dangerous in your condition. Your bones are still regenerating, and they are still brittle."

Ell-rom blinked in surprise. He hadn't realized his bones had been affected by the stasis. "I didn't know that," he admitted.

"Do you need help getting dressed?" Julian asked.

Ell-rom shook his head, determined to complete this task on his own as well. "No, thank you. I want to do everything myself from start to finish. I need this small victory."

"I get it." Julian nodded. "But don't hesitate to call if you need assistance. I'll stay outside the door until you are out."

It was a reasonable compromise. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

When the door closed behind Julian, Ell-rom turned his attention to the clothes. They were the same as the ones he wore before. Julian explained that medics wore those when they were on duty, and that was why he had a bunch of them on hand. They were made to fit different body types and were loose and comfortable. The pants could be cinched at the waist by pulling a drawstring, and he managed to tie it after a few fumbling attempts. The shirt was a simple, square-cut design that he pulled over his head. The fabric was soft against his skin, and the garments had a faint smell of cleaning detergent that was quite pleasant.

Ell-rom felt a nearly euphoric sense of accomplishment at what he had managed.

Taking hold of the walker, he moved across to the bathroom door, opened it, and walked out.

Jasmine's face lit up as she saw him. "Look at you!" She clapped her hands. "You did it!"

He smiled. "It feels good to be a little more self-sufficient."

21

JASMINE

Ell-rom's nostrils flared as he smelled the food that had been delivered while he was in the bathroom, and as he shifted his gaze to the two trays on the bedside table, his eyes widened.

"Are you eating with me?"

"Yes. Bridget ordered two meals to be delivered each time so you could choose what you like. It's important that you eat enough to get stronger. Whatever you don't want, I'll eat."

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