Chapter 20 What If?

• I hadn't moved from this bed in two days. It was a prison now-one made of soft sheets and comfort, but a prison all the same. My body, once strong and capable, had betrayed me. I couldn't feel my legs, and every time I tried to move, it was like they weren't even mine.
• Sir Francis assured me I was healing. His voice was calm and measured, telling me that with time, I would walk again. But how much time? How long would I be trapped here, helpless? The question gnawed at me, along with a darker fear I hadn't dared to speak aloud: what if I never walked again? What if my legs remained lifeless, leaving me stuck in this bed for the rest of my life?
• Betty, the older woman who had been caring for me, stayed by my side, trying her best to keep my spirits up. She fussed over me like a mother hen, bringing me meals, straightening my blankets, and talking to me endlessly about the estate and the people in it. It reminded me so much of my old nanny, Jennifer, back in Eternia. The thought of her brought a lump to my throat. I missed her. Jennifer had always known what to say when I was frightened or sad. She had a way of making the world seem smaller and less overwhelming.