Charlespuke

Rain aftermath (Commission)

Added 2025-10-25 14:58:04 +0000 UTC

Lucy sat in her wheelchair, one leg stretched across the coffee table, the red cast bright against the dull tones of the room. The other foot, rested lightly on the footplate.

She rubbed her forehead, remembering the mess that had led to this. It had started raining harder than she expected, and she’d tried to hurry home, pushing fast through the slick sidewalk. Then her front caster caught on a pothole she didn’t see. The chair jerked forward, and before she could brace herself, she was down, groceries everywhere, milk leaking down the curb, rain pouring over her.

It wasn’t the first time she’d fallen. She knew how to get back in the chair, even in the rain, even when people stared but didn’t help. But that night, by the time she’d gotten inside, dried off, and looked down, her ankle was already swollen, her foot at an odd angle.

Now she stared at the cast, quiet and thoughtful. What really bothered her wasn’t the fall. It was next week, the trip she’d been planning for months. She’d been excited about it, counting the days, imagining herself exploring someplace new. But now, she couldn’t stop thinking about all the uneven sidewalks, the narrow doors, the stairs with no ramps.

She exhaled slowly and shook her head, fingers tapping against the push rim.
“This is going to be a pain,” she muttered, almost laughing at herself. Then, after a beat, her expression steadied.
“But I’m still going. No way I’m missing that trip.”