The Strength to Fall (McKinnon Brothers Book 1) Read Free Page B

do you hurt the most? May I touch your leg and ankle to examine you?”
    “Yes,” I said quietly.
    Doc touched my leg and I winced but when he lightly picked up my ankle I let out a small scream. He quickly put it back down but continued to touch it and inspect the bone. I was in agony. I’m quite a clumsy person so I’ve had my share of injuries but I can’t remember feeling this much pain before and that scared me. My heart rate immediately shot up and all the things Doc said a few minutes before played in my head. I am here in the city alone. I don’t want to go to the hospital and be there all night long, again alone. I placed my hand over my chest and felt the pounding of my heart. My Fitbit was registering my pulse at 90 and climbing. My head felt dizzy and my throat felt tight. Oh my God, please not again, here in front of Ozias. Please do not go full blown panic attack!!!
    Doc looked very concerned all the sudden. “Ms. McLeod, is your chest hurting? Do you have a history of heart problems? Do you take medication for blood pressure?”
    His questions just amped up my anxiety! But I had to calm down. I had too! I started my breathing exercises Dr. May had taught me and the same ones I used during my yoga classes.
    I could feel both their eyes on me waiting for my answers but my throat was too tight to speak so I just shook my head back and forth indicating a no. Breathe, in the nose, out the mouth. Find a focal point and concentrate on regulating my breathing. This was playing in my head while I was searching the lobby for a focal point to help calm me when I made eye contact with Ozias. Those beautiful hazel eyes stared right at me, almost like he had the power to reach into my mind and calm me. I exhaled slowly and kept starring in his eyes. I felt my heart beat slowing. I sadly broke the eye contact and glanced at my Fitbit, my pulse was now 72 and going down. I took a few more calming breaths and then looked at Doc to answer his questions.
    “No, no heart problems.” I hesitated because this was information I didn’t give out and certainly not around hot guys like Ozias, but I was more than ready to get out of this lobby so I answered Doc’s questions. “I have anxiety, but I’m not crazy,” I said a little too quickly with my eyes towards my lap. I couldn’t look at Ozias now.
    “I have triggers. Just being hurt and realizing I am alone in this city, is well, um, overwhelming, and with the pain….. I just, I just need you to tell me what to do so I can get to my co-op and try to forget this day happened. Is it broke, my ankle, do you think it’s broke?”
    Doc was silent a minute as he seemed to process all I said. Then with a sigh he answered me. “No, I don’t think it is. An x-ray would be the only way to know for sure but in my opinion, I think you’ve just sprained it very badly. I could take you to the office tomorrow for an x-ray just to be on the safe side, and since my son caused this accident,” He paused to look back at Ozias who was studying the tiles with his hands linked in front of him. He looked just like a child being scolded and my heart went out to him. Doc turned back to me. “I have an air cast in the co-op that you’re welcome to use for the night. You need to do RICE, that’s rest, ice, compression, elevate. Do not put any pressure on it! You can take up to four 200 mg ibuprofen, that is as long as you’re not allergic, and only 6 hours apart. Most of all just rest and it would be best for you not to be alone tonight, to have someone help you so you don’t put any pressure on your ankle.” He paused while in thought then added, “You know, we have a pair of crutches in the co-op too. Let me go ask Mark if the building has a wheelchair we can borrow to take you up to your co-op and I’ll go get the air cast and crutches.”
    Doc got up and started towards the desk that Mark was sitting behind. I started to object to the wheelchair and even the air cast and