"Sigh..." Morning came and I looked at myself in the mirror. My legs didn't hurt as badly as they did yesterday, but my legs still felt sore to where it felt uncomfortable to stand. I might be able to go to school, but—... actually—I should think about this situation more critically. I took my phone out and went to the Thersia Hospital website. I found a phone number and dialed it.

  Ring... ring... Ah, it went through. 《Hello, my name is Tilmen Alis, assistant with Doctor Halcation for Thersia District Hospital and Medical Services, how may I help you?》

  "Hello—my name is Teseia Alicia. Could I arrange an emergency appointment with Doctor Halcation today?"

  I closed the door behind me while I sloppily and clumsily walked in. "I apologize, Doctor Halcation, for requesting an appointment on such short notice today." I sat down and put my small bag on my p before looking around. I was called to a small medical office, with an elevated bed in the corner of the room alongside a desk with a computer in a corner. On the walls were Dr. Halcation's certificates and diploma, and his desktop was clean of excess papers - though there were some sticky notes on the screen of his computer. Looking at it once more, Dr. Halcation's office was what I would expect from a professional.

  "Do not worry, regardless of what it is or when, I do my best to care for my patients." Dr. Halcation replied - though I had a feeling as he said what he did, by 'patients', he meant me. He took papers out of a drawer, and looked at them, "Regarding your condition - from what you told my assistant -, I will get someone to do scans to check for any bone or stress fractures. We will look for anything that we missed before. Afterwards, I'll have a female assistant perform a basic physical checkup on you." Physical checkup—ah...

  I've done them before, but—as a girl—... isn't this where they check—,

  "Do you have concerns or questions Alicia?" Err—,

  "Nothing... Doctor." I uttered—best not to think about it. It's just a physical examination...

  "Through before anything, could you fill this medical questionnaire?" Dr. Halcation took out a paper, giving it to me, "Whatever doesn't apply to you now or if you can't recall it, leave bnk."

  I looked at the paper and the questions... How should I answer them? Gncing at them, a lot of them were mental health questions, but—er... 'Have engaged in any sexual activities in?'... "Well there's going to be a lot of bnks..."

  "That's fine, whatever you can or are willing to answer. For now I'll keep all your records as if you were a new person." Assured by Dr. Halcation, I start filling out the questionnaire.

  I stumbled with the physician towards Dr. Halcation's office. The physician I was with pointed to a seat near the office, "Wait here Teseia, I have to speak with Dr Halcation." The physician told me.

  I nodded my head and went to sit down. I took out a book I carried around in my small book bag and started reading...

  ... ... ...

  "Teseia, you are good to go in." I look up to see the physician leaning down in front of me.

  "Thank you." I closed my book, putting it into my bag before standing.

  "Follow me please." I followed the physician to Dr. Halcation's office. "Wait here." She said as she entered the office... I waited in anticipation, hearing footsteps and mumbled voices through the door. Soon enough the door opened, "You can come in Teseia." She said, holding the door open for me.

  "Yes." I uttered, "Thank you." I walked into the room to see Dr. Halcation on his chair facing me.

  "Welcome back to my office Alicia." Dr. Halcation said as he went through a file with my name 'Teseia Alicia'.

  I sat down on the chair in the office, "I'm back here again Doctor." I said in a lightly, joking manner.

  "Indeed." He paid little attention to me as he pulled two papers out of the file... He turned around to look at his computer to type something, "Your body is fine for the most part, but—," Dr. Halcation took a deep rge breath... "I can't say why or how, but your muscles are very weak - especially your legs."

  Eh—? "What—ah..." Everything made more sense when I thought about it... Obviously there would be no way that a girl sent into a bedridden state - for who knows how long - would recover perfectly, even if by miracle. "What—will I recover?"

  "Yes," Dr. Halcation replied, still looking at his computer, "I'll issue you physical therapy with a physician, although—even with you being young and developing, I doubt your body will heal completely based off what our initial examinations show." Ugh...

  "Then..." I know it was bad, but I had to ask. "Just how much will my injury affect my normal life?"

  "That—well, to say..." He took another long pause as he held his hand to his chin, "... I cannot say for certain how much, but doing rigorous physical activities - or even anything more than a fast walk - will start straining your legs. Carrying heavy loads will ruin your body." Oh—. "But simple stuff like what you carry to school on a normal basis should be fine. Though if anything starts to hurt, stop immediately."

  "Yes..." That isn't too bad... I mean—it is still terrible, but I doubt I'll do anything physically demanding... especially in a body like this.

  Dr. Halcation turned his attention to his computer and typed something in, "I'll give you a doctor's notice and some ending statements for your appointment but be careful and come back here if something hurts majorly Alicia." Dr. Halcation says as he gave me a group of papers.

  "Okay..." I looked at the papers. Most of them had stuff I couldn't make out immediately, other than a list of symptoms alongside what was being given to me. I saw on the paper me being issued physical therapy - and I know Dr. Halcation said he would issue me physical therapy too -, but I didn't see any dates. "Err—could I get any schedule on when my physical therapy starts, and the times?"

  "I'll let you know. I still need to get with their branch, but when I get your appointments, I will let you know - as well as your therapist's contact." Dr. Halcation said as he went back to his computer. He typed some more stuff in before looking at me, "Aside from your visit today, how have you been doing Alicia?"

  "I have been doing fine, thank you Halcation." Sensing that my medical visit was over, I decided to be casual, "School has been going fine, but..."

  "..." Perhaps it was more obvious than it seems, "I can't say for certain - after all, I don't know you or Cecelia that closely," He stood, walking around his desk, "But I know that you are trying. Whatever it is - I am sure you will be there for her, Alicia." He held his hand on my shoulder, "I know you are technically an 'adult', but even being an adult is hard at first. Besides - it's okay to be a child at your age."

  "... okay..." I—Halcation's words made me realize - from before, and now, I never really was or acted like a child... "Thank you Halcation." Maybe I should try to enjoy myself...

  I opened the door back home and took off my shoes, ying them on the shoe rack. I put my out-going book bag on a hook near the door. Afterwards, I went to the kitchen.

  "Ah—," Cecelia stood in the kitchen in her uniform and a light-blue apron with fishes. She looked surprised to see me...

  Well—I should be home normally, if going off my school schedule. I guess me not making dinner made her think I would be te again or not make dinner. Looking at the kitchen, Cecelia had some things id out on the table - from what I could see quickly, I saw a bag of flour and packaged fish.

  "I—I..." Cecelia uttered frightened, slowly backing up, "I... didn't mean to—,"

  "I—err..." Why... I felt sorry - for her, and myself... I wanted to do something, but... The worry that I would distance ourselves further—, "I'll... tell you when food is ready Cecelia."

  "... yes—Alicia..." Seeing her walk away quickly, escaping, was quite sad...

  "Well—... I suppose I should make dinner." I looked at what Cecelia left on the table as she fled—, "Ah..." She left her phone here.

  Well, I suppose I should return it. I picked it up and—, "Huh...?" There was a recipe in her phone. "Let's see—can I make this work..." On Cecelia's phone was a recipe for breaded fish. Everything on the table made sense as I thought of breaded fish - flour and milk, fish, and oil being what was currently out.

  I went upstairs with Cecelia's phone to return her phone. I softly knocked on her door... nothing. "Cecelia—you left your phone on the—ah." The door opened and Cecelia peered her head out—honestly she looked like a small animal. In a cute sense. She looked scared—, "Eh—here..." I held her phone out, "You left your phone—so... I figured you would want it."

  "I—..." Cecelia looked conflicted, but she eventually slowly reached her hand out taking her phone, "I—... thank you, Alicia." After taking her phone, she slowly closed her door.

  I went back to the kitchen and got my apron. "Let's get cooking."

  My skill in cooking was good enough that I doubt anything would go wrong as I prepped everything. Now my hand handled the knife like I handled a pencil drawing - effortlessly and safely... although my handling with a knife wasn't perfect like when I drew with a pencil. Taking off my apron, I looked at what I made satisfied.

  I went up to get Cecelia. Usually, I ate first and reheated everything fresh for her afterwards, but this time I wanted her to eat first. Just maybe - just maybe -, Cecelia would come. Maybe this fish was something she liked - maybe she might wish to come eat it with me - maybe. I knocked on her door lightly, "Dinner is ready."

  Nothing came through... I hoped she would be out of her room within a minute, but nothing.

  "I hope Cecelia changes her image of Alicia." I really tried - I really did...

  I thought to myself, was I doing something wrong? I never... I never had a sibling - much less a normal family. I knew the retionship between Alicia and Cecelia wasn't normal - something major clearly happened -, but... "..." I wanted to cry, "... Was... am I doing something wrong...?" I wanted to be close - I wanted to be a reliable older sister, but... I had no idea how - what do I do as an older sister?...

  I walked back to the kitchen in defeat and ate alone before going back to my room.