_lady_vanity_

And here we are again, continuing the story of my life.

The eyes of everyone in the room were still on her; she could feel them, she knew perfectly well that everyone in that moment was watching her movements; the little girl tried with all her strength not to be distracted and continue her exercise.

My parents couldn't believe what their little girl had achieved thanks to the botulinum toxin; they couldn't hold back their tears.

After finishing her exercise, the little girl asked the doctor to help her sit up. Her face was filled with pain, pain she had been trying to hide for a long time, not just physical but especially emotional. Seeing the small improvement, the little girl felt that finally something was going right; who knows, perhaps luck had finally noticed her and decided to give her some peace of mind...

The days passed, and with each rehabilitation session, the little girl made small, increasingly evident improvements. She had finally started walking again, albeit slowly. She had a peculiar gait, a distinctive one, a gait that would cause her much discomfort in the future and leave many deep wounds. But in that moment, the little girl didn't care; she could finally say goodbye to her "traveling companion" (the wheelchair) and make room for a new friend.

That day, my parents, as always, entered the same hospital. For our little warrior, it was like a second home by now; she knew every corner of the famous "rebirth room." The difference was that from that day on, the little girl would have a new companion by her side.

The doctor, after entering the famous room, approached the family and, after having everyone sit down, sat down himself and began to explain the little girl's improvements and the precautions she and her family should take to prevent further deterioration. The doctor explained that they would need to bring home a tripod, a three-legged cane that the little girl would use to get around and walk. He also explained to my parents that they would need to go get a machine that the little girl would need to use every day for at least an hour for a few months. The machine in question was a tendon-lengthening machine. The little girl would be positioned upright, and after tying her legs and feet, my parents would slowly stretch the tendon using a handle. The only downside to this was that the little girl would again experience a lot of pain, since tendon-lengthening involves stretching the tendon to the point of pain.

After finishing the visit, the little family set off for the place where this machine was kept. The little girl was very scared of her new friend, but at the same time she couldn't wait to get back to school. She kept wondering what her classmates would think of her new gait and, above all, her new "playmate" (the tripod). When they arrived, they found themselves in front of a large exposed brick building, and after entering, their first step was to approach the information center. After asking their question, they headed toward the indicated department. Upon their arrival, they found a woman waiting for them. The doctor approached and greeted everyone, but especially the little girl. Knowing what awaited her, the little girl felt the terror growing inside her. Every small step forward she took toward that infernal contraption felt like a boulder. She felt as if her little feet and legs had turned to lead. She felt her skin breaking out in sweat and her body overheating more and more. The family followed the doctor to the rear of the building. Once outside, they found themselves faced with a large door. The woman in the white coat led them inside and pointed out a large, blue iron machine. At the sight of that object, the little girl felt her head grow lighter and lighter as time passed. She felt as if she were no longer there. Her little head was intent on imagining the pain she would feel as soon as her parents placed her on that machine. That pain was well imprinted on her memory, having already experienced it in the "rebirth room," and she knew full well that it wouldn't go away anytime soon.

After bringing it home, unfortunately, the little girl could no longer escape; it was time for the next challenge against herself.

And here we are again today, at the end of the chapter. As always, let me know what you think and what it has taught you; it's very important to me.