Chapter 30
“You okay?” Fran asked after a while. “I’m sorry if the bar was too much for you.”
“It’s fine. I have to get used to it again. I can’t spend my life in my flat.”
“No. But that doesn’t mean you have to push yourself into a situation you’re not ready for.”
“I should be ready,” Dez protested. He took a swig of beer. “It’s been months.”
“So what? Is there a deadline? It takes as long as it takes.”
“I…should be stronger than this.” He dropped his head and covered his eyes with one hand. A rustle later, and Fran was beside him, an arm around him. He spoke so close, Dez felt the breeze of his soft words.
“There is no ‘should’ about it. You’re hurt. You’re in pain. But, Dez, pain is not weakness. You have to give yourself time for recovery. You wouldn’t go on walking on a broken ankle, would you? Because you’d damage it permanently, and then it wouldbe weak, not just hurt.”
“And what if it neverstops hurting? What if this is nottemporary?”