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That answer came too easily.

“That’s it?” I asked as I frowned.

“You said no. So, we’re done.”

She reached toward the wheelchair positioned behind me, and irritation immediately moved through me. I turned my head to watch as she positioned the chair. I was fucking flabbergasted. I really thought she was going to push my ass. Behind me, Eternity laughed, and I turned my head.

“What’s funny?” I asked her.

“You.”

“Ain’t shit funny.”

“You said you were done,” Eternity said in a matter-of-fact kind of way.

“I said I wasn’t ready to do it again.”

“Sounds the same to me.”

I stared at my wife, and she stared right back. She would always match my energy.

“Sit down. You said no, right?” she said with a shrug.

The way she said it irritated me more than it should’ve. So, she started laying it on thick.

“Sit down. You’re tired, you don’t want to do it anymore, so sit down.”

I knew exactly what she was doing. The physical therapist apparently did too because she suddenly became very interested in adjusting something on the wheelchair. Then she coughed into her hand to cover a laugh.

“Both of y’all getting on my nerves,” I said in an annoyed tone.

“Then give us something else to talk about,” Eternity said.

I shook my head, but my hands were already settling back into position. The physical therapist stepped closer.

“One more?” she asked.

“One more,” I said with confidence.

She nodded before instructing me what to do.

“Okay, now do the same thing. Don’t rush it.”

I planted my feet as firmly as I could and looked down at them. My legs were already tired, and everything in me wanted to call it for the day. There was always tomorrow. Then I looked toward Eternity’s stomach. Tomorrow wasn’t something I felt like wasting anymore. I had a son coming, so I shifted my weight. My left leg trembled immediately, but I held it.

“Good,” my physical therapist said.

I concentrated on keeping my body upright without relying entirely on my arms. Sweat rolled down the side of my face, and the muscles in my back tightened as I fought to maintain my balance.

“Now bring some of that weight back toward center.”

Slowly, I did. My right leg responded. It was shaky as fuck, but it responded.

“There you go.”

I kept my eyes down.

“Don’t look at your feet,” she instructed. “Look ahead.”