Chapter 15 – walking together

At the director’s office, you’re telling me you made a guy walk again,his daughters are blessed by norse gods,and you didn’t even take a break?

Dana shrugs, standing before the desk.

"The miracles are for mornings. the breaks are for afternoons."

The director, a tall bearded man with round glasses, chuckles he rummages through a drawer and pulls out a form.

"Take a day for them for you. for the guy’s legs."

He hands it to her, eyeing her over his glasses.

"Approved. hike tomorrow. hospital’s providing transport. there’s even fresh juice in the cooler."

"Thanks, boss."

"And bring back pictures. it’s for the website. people love heroes with kids. and doctors with fruit."

"Ill bring back the guy’s muscular legs not the fruit."

"Deal."

At dawn, a small shuttle climbs the hills onboard Dana, Stormline with just one reduced crutch and two excited little girls.

"It’s the mountain of a thousand smells!" shouts one.

"Well smell all the flowers! even the ones that tickle your nose!"

"We can run mom says it’s good for legs even magic ones!"

Dana raises an eyebrow, arms crossed.

"You’re not running into the mist, are you?"

The two share a conspiratorial glance.

"...Well trot quickly."

Stormline smiles, sitting beside her, one hand on his still-stiff thigh.

"Thanks, Dana. for... all of this."

She looks at him, then nods toward the trail.

"you walk. you warm up. thank me at the top."

The path is gentle, in bloom leaves sing under their steps rocks glisten softly, marked by ancient signs.

"it’s... peaceful," murmurs Stormline, voice a bit rough.

Dana walks beside him, hands in her pockets.

"It’s alive. and alive... is already a miracle."

The girls run a little ahead, then bounce back.

"There’s a cave! a real one!"

"We saw a butterfly that talks!"

"It was probably Loki in disguise!"

Dana sighs, laughing.

"Or a sugar hallucination."

"No! he said he’d come back with thunder ice cream!"

"If he comes back with cosmic coffee, i’m marrying him," 

Dana mutters after two hours of walking, they reach a small plateau a breathtaking view a golden silence wraps them the girls sit on a blanket and devour their sandwiches Stormline stretches out, face turned toward the clouds Dana opens a box of fruit.

"Do you think we’ll ever be normal?" he asks, voice calmer.

She looks at the horizon for a moment.

"Il think there are a thousand ways to be normal and even more to choose which ones to keep."

He nods, thoughtful.

"Before... when i ran, i felt like i was escaping something now i just want to move forward."

Dana looks at him with a subtle smile.

"You just said something worthy of a celestial wisdom brochure."

He turns toward her.

"You talk like a goddess."

She smiles more broadly.

"i’m a doctor pretty much the same thing."

On the way back, the twins sing a made-up song.

"Daddy runs, daddy jumps, daddy eats a carrot!"

"The mountain says thanks, the legs look great!"

Stormline follows them, legs steady, hands ready to catch the faster one.

Dana brings up the rear, one hand on her hip, the other holding an apple.

"We look like a band of chaotic adventurers."

"We’re the morning bolts!"

"And dad is our special hero!"

The sun slowly dips behind the mountain a soft light gilds the rocks, lights up their faces and in the air a presence. distant. reassuring as if Thor or another red bolt was watching them, proud Dana, without turning, murmurs to herself.

"The world still has a little room for miracles."

Stormline, walking beside her, whispers.

"And for those who run without magic."

She throws him a knowing look.

"Think you could teach me?"

"To run?"

"To to slow down."

They burst out laughing and the mountain, too, seems to smile.

End of chapter 15 – walking together