Page 138 of Frozen Flames

“That’s great! How are you feeling about all of this?” Dr, Lee asks.

“I’m nervous…and excited.” I’m looking forward to saving money to buy a new car and modifying it with hand controls so that I can drive. For now, I’ll be relying on my parents and Henrik to drive me to work, since the van wasn’t modified for me to drive, and I’ll need to get a new driver’s license.

“Oh, and I finally told my parents not to hire another in-home nurse or PTA. I’m still seeing my main PT, and I’m confident I can do the training by myself for now.”

Alongside Hen.

“I’m sure that wasn’t easy to do.” He nods, pauses, then continues. “Yet if that’s something you want, having that boundary in place is important.”

My session follows me like a ghost in the following days.

I think about Dr. Lee’s words and my different relationships with Gemma and Claire.

It’s enough to drain me.

That coupled with the twice a day training I’ve been doing to distract myself and my new job has me crashing by nighttime.

Yet despite the tiredness, I feel less bitter as the days go by.

I guess this is what I needed, time post-breakup, and it’s exactly why I let Claire go without putting up a fight.

My mind keeps playing tricks on me and worrying that she’ll find someone else, but another stronger part of me keeps reminding myself to trust the process and focus on myself.

At the end of the day, it’s the only way to get the girl and keep her forever.

Claire

It’s April, it’s spring, and the sun is shining its brightest today. I’ve spent the last few weeks job hunting, and today, Monday, is my first day at my new job.

The thought sends me back to my first day meeting Harv.

I remember how much he affected me.

I thought he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen—still do.

I spend a few hours in the morning reviewing my salary and benefits, since I already completed the other employment paperwork online.

It’s a private six-month part-time contract, but it will keep me busy until I figure out what my next move is. Perhaps I’d want to work in a clinic instead of doing private work.

Soon, I get to meet my new patient: Adelina Kent, a seventy-seven-year-old woman who suffered a terrible fall and injured her hip. I spend the rest of the morning doing physical rehab with her.

She’s pretty quiet, and she isn’t moody—unlike Harvey.

Despite all of that, I spend all day missing him. Even when I’m back home making dinner with Audrey and my mom, I can’t help this lingering sadness as I think of him.

I hope he’s keeping up with PT.

I yearn to call him or text him and especially see him, but I know that would be nonsensical. I can’t keep running to him every time. He has to come to me, and he has to be ready to do so.

“Have you heard from him?” my mom asks while Audrey’s on a FaceTime call with her friend, following the latest social media trend by baking muffins.

“No.” I shake my head nervously.

“Aw, sweetie! Claire, I promise you, you won’t regret taking this time now.”

“I know.” I stare at Audrey as she’s laughing hysterically at something her friend says. It makes me smile.

“One day at a time, that’s all you can really do in life.” My mom offers her words of advice.

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