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Show 398 She has fastened the pastel gait-belt around my waist to steady my walking but it is now probably for her comfort more than for my safety. We are going outside. We have, in the past few visits, walked together from one end of our small home to the other and I am ready for a larger trek. Besides, it is our last session together. Medicaid is faithless and has approved only a few sessions of physical therapy. She opens the door wide and Rex is pushing his way next to me, wondering where his leash is, confused that I would be going out without him. "No, you stay," I am telling him and he eyes me for confirmation of this unexpected command. He backs out ofthe way and I step outside. The sun is shining. The honeysuckle next to the front porch is shorter than I thought and the daffodil bed does not seem so large, from this height. "Ready?" she is asking me, grasping the belt at my back. I am not practiced at stairs and we have three steps descending our front porch. We could have taken the ramp inside our garage but I have wanted to see what steps feel like with the safety ofthe gait belt and her sure grasp of it. I step down carefully, putting both feet on each step, as a small child would. |