About ten the next morning the friends from college came in to see her. They had to return to school and were uncomfortable leaving without her. They said their good-bye’s at least ten times and left. Kathy felt alone.

Dr. Western came in later in the day. “You can go back to school tomorrow afternoon if you like.”

“How am I going to control my legs? I know the program isn’t done.”

“They have to stay here. First there isn’t any programming and you can’t take the chance of damage without sensation. Second your stumps are too sore to take the weight and will be for three or four weeks. I’ll give you something for the pain.”

“Can’t I have my knees and the prosthesis? I could get around on them.”

“No. It would really be bad for you. You’d make the stumps sore. They really got burned inside.”

You mean I have to use a chair?” The word stuck in her throat.

Yes. There isn’t a choice.”

Barb called later in the day to see if she could help. Kathy was down and Barb knew it.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can come back to school tomorrow but I can’t have my legs back till nearly Christmas.”

“So, come back. We can get you a wheel chair. It isn’t fun. I’ll not tell you it’s not bad, you know what it is like, but it’s better than quitting.”

The response really kicked Kathy. She realized she was trying to have a pity party. Her spirits rose. A few minutes later she hung up the phone, a new person.

The next day her mother and father took her to college. When she got there she unfolded her chair and slid into it. She would have to check in daily with the campus doctor to have her stumps checked. When they had healed properly she could get some of her mobility back. Her father brought the computer into the room. As they left Kathy saw her mother cry. She looked up and said, “It’s alright mom. I’m fine.” Her mother smiled and hugged her. On the way out of the college the parents stopped at the campus infirmary and dropped off a box Dr. Western had secretly given them.

Kathy was like a person possessed. She programmed in every free moment. A week after she came back she was riding back from class when she saw Gwen in her chair. They talked as they went to the dorm.