Emily's recovery at home was relatively swift, a testament to the resilience of youth, though it wasn’t without its hurdles. Muscle atrophy from her hospital stay necessitated regular physical therapy sessions.Emily oddly enough found these sessions enjoyable, akin to games from physical education class at school.

  During one session, her enthusiasm got the better of her as she tugged on her training straps with excess enthusiasm sending them flying into her therapist's face. "Oops…yeah…sorry about that…" she murmured, flushed with embarrassment as Sarah attempted to stifle a laugh from a distance - trying her best to empathize with a fellow practitioner.

  Having a mother who was a skilled therapist in her own right was a double edged sword. Sarah was diligent in ensuring that Emily adhered to her exercise regimen and while Emily appreciated her mother’s care - she found the exercises less than stimulating at home.

  “Mom, I know you're a PT and all, but would it hurt to skip a few exercises?" Emily pleaded one day in boredom, sparing a glance at her pile of comic books.

  "Hey! No backtalk, missy!" Sarah immediately retorted, playfully tweaking Emily’s nose. “I’d like to read comic books too, you know…” she added with a wink. These light-hearted moments sprinkled between daily tedium made the otherwise monotonous recovery exercises more bearable - for both parties.

  Follow-up visits to her doctors were bittersweet. While it was comforting to reconnect with those who had been her temporary guardians and helped her regain her strength, the sterile environment of clinics and hospitals still made her uneasy. She barely tolerated blood draws, still drawing from a deep-seated fear of needles, which casted a shadow over such moments. She even came close to uttering a few adult-grade obscenities she wasn’t entirely sure where she had inherited.

  "Why can’t you just check me, Dad?" she grumbled during one visit. "I mean, you’re a doctor.."

  "Well, Emily, it’s not easy to treat someone you love so much, especially family...and, well…"

  "You don’t know if you can be…objective?" Emily interjected, understanding her father's hesitation about taking over her healthcare.

  "That’s exactly it," Thomas confirmed, his expression one of mild astonishment. "Not even ten and you’re already discussing medical ethics," he murmured under his breath.

  "Oops… adult language… back off, Em," she chided herself silently for once again blurting too much. It seemed to have become increasingly more difficult to reign in her more complex vocabulary and thoughts although she was still unsure where it originated from. "Well, you and Mom do talk about work at home," she replied, maintaining an air of innocence.

  She often needed gentle encouragement from her parents to stay focused. As she slogged through basic multiplication exercises and strove to draw within the lines, her frustration mounted. "This is sooo boring! It was kind of fun at first, but now? Give me a real challenge already!" she grumbled to herself, half-tempted to throw the workbook out the window. She realized that, on some level, she missed the social interaction, the camaraderie of her classmates and friends.

  Watching her daughter's frustration with the monotony of homework, Sarah sought to lighten the mood. “Some music might make this more fun, what do you think?” she offered.

  “Yes! That sounds awesome mom!’ Emily replied as her eyes brightened. “I just need something to keep me in the groove... this work isn’t exactly difficult..” she mused quietly to herself, tapping her pencil against the table. The answer came abruptly, leaving her feeling like she had experienced a warm hug from deep within her soul. She couldn’t explain why and didn’t feel the need to dwell deeper since Emily now instinctively knew music she needed to listen to.

  "Can we listen to some…Van Halen or Journey?" she asked with a look of pure unadulterated glee spreading across her face

  Sarah’s eyebrows rose in amusement at her daughter's request for adult favorites. "That’s quite a …selection, but why not?" she agreed, moving to set up the cassette player.

  Emily paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Or maybe something by Darude? You know, like that ‘Sandstorm’ song?" she suggested hopefully, the thought of listening to electronic music making her ever so slightly giddy.

  "Darude? Is that some new children's musician you’re into?" Sarah asked, puzzled, flipping through their collection of cassette tapes. "I don’t think we have anything by them…."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Emily paused, a little taken aback by that request. She could vividly remember, or perhaps feel , listening to Sandstorm and similar electronic music. However, her memories of hearing this music felt inexplicably distorted - blurred and nebulous - almost as if she had heard this in another life or timeline. For a moment, she considered that perhaps she had heard the music or the name of the track at someone else’s home?

  "Let’s stick to Van Halen then..." Emily quickly covered, dismissing her puzzlement and instead chuckling to herself about the perceived mix-up. As the music started, Emily’s foot tapped along to the beat, as Eddie Van Halen’s guitar injected color into her monotonous homework session - breezing through exercises and problem sets with ease.

  —

  Eventually, the day came for Emily to return to class. She hesitated at the classroom entrance; it had been what felt like eons, and familiar butterflies fluttered in her stomach, echoing her very first day at this school. She seemed to remember hiding in the shadows, feeling the entire universe as both unknown and alien, constantly exerting control to keep herself in check. These memories had at first seemed hazy - as if they were experienced or seen through someone else’s eye. However, time had changed her one way or another —she now carried with her a newfound understanding of her place within her family, among her friends, and in this universe. With a brave smile, she stepped into the bustling classroom just as the bell rang to signal the start of the day.

  She paused for a moment to take in the colorful, lively room—until a chorus of "Emily!" filled the air. Suddenly, she was swept up in a group hug by Lucy and Lily knocking the wind out of her. "Oof… it's nice to see you guys too," she laughed, trying to catch her breath.

  "Welcome back, Emily. It's nice to see you again," the classroom teacher said, giving her a gentle hug. Then, turning to the class, she announced, "Everyone, let’s give Emily a warm welcome back. As you know, she was quite ill and spent a long time in the hospital, but our little trooper is back." She initiated applause, a cue that Lucy and Lily, and gradually the rest of the class eagerly followed, filling the room with cheers.

  A blushing Emily scratched the back of her neck, her smile broadening. "Thank you, everyone…" she murmured, touched by the warm welcome. In that moment, surrounded by her classmates' cheers, Emily was yet again reminded that she was truly not alone at all.

  After settling back into the rhythm of school life, Emily noticed a subtle shift in her classmates’ behavior. They seemed kinder and more considerate than before, as if her ordeal had deepened their capacity for empathy. Her peers slowed down during group activities to let her catch up if she was winded, or offered to help carry her books if she appeared more tired than usual. Her teacher, too, seemed especially watchful, often checking in on her with a gentle question or a supportive nod. While the extra attention sometimes made Emily feel self-conscious, she secretly appreciated the care, feeling a comforting sense of belonging that was new to her.

  —

  As time passed, Emily gradually regained her strength, rediscovering the joy of playdates with friends. Though she sometimes found herself winded, the moments of connection and laughter were worth it. Family outings added depth to her recovery, helping her rebuild stamina and emotional resilience. Whether on walks with her parents, visits to local museums, or exploring the zoo and beach, Emily found peace in the world around her, feeling the burdens of her illness lighten with each step.

  Her mischievous side resurfaced, much to her parents' amusement and mild exasperation. One evening, Emily swapped the sugar in the sugar bowl with salt. The next morning, Sarah's startled expression and sputtering as she tasted her coffee sent Emily into fits of giggles from her hiding spot around the corner.

  “Emily!” Sarah exclaimed, wiping her mouth and trying not to laugh. “Oh, you little... come here!” she called, playfully chasing after Emily. “Just wait until it’s your turn for coffee when you grow up!” she added, as Emily darted away with snickering at a prank well pulled.

  One weekend, Emily received an invitation to Lucy’s birthday party. She felt a flutter of nerves from - nervousness at the thought of keeping up with her friends. “What if I get too tired?” she wondered. "Can I keep up with them? Will I be okay or just be a drag?" Emily paused and questioned these feelings - they felt as though they were not her fears but more a projection of someone else.

  In the end, these concerns were shown to be unfounded. To her delight, Emily not only kept up but thrived. She joined games with enthusiasm, her laughter mingling with the joyful sounds of her friends. During a dance break, Lucy took her hand and said, “I’m so happy you’re here, Em!” The simple gesture and kind words filled Emily with a warm sense of belonging, the warmth and inclusion she felt strengthening her resolve.

  As part of her recovery, Emily rediscovered her love of reading. Children’s books, though charming, didn’t quite satisfy her intellectual curiosity. Instead, she delved into novels and stories typically meant for teens or adults, finding joy in being transported to fantastical worlds. Her creative interests also flourished—she often found herself scribbling or sketching illustrations, sometimes childlike and sometimes with a touch of realism, in her sketchbook. She frequently shared her drawings with her family, each piece a testament to her renewed vitality.

  —

  The support of her family and friends, combined with Emily’s own determination, created a nurturing environment that fostered her healing. With each day, as she faced and conquered new challenges, she felt her strength returning and a growing gratitude for the life and love surrounding her.

  "I’m really not alone in this, am I?" she thought with a soft smile. A gentle warmth spread from deep within, as if her very soul—or something else within her—was answering, validating her thoughts. “No, you’re not…” a voice seemed to echo from somewhere deep inside, filling her with peace.

  Emily lay back on her bed, her smile widening. “No, we’re not…”