“You keep your heart rate steady,” Dr.

Grant said.

“I’ll follow the schedule exactly,” I said.

He clicked his pen twice and slid it into his white coat pocket.

“The state funding covers the entire maintenance protocol from now on,” he said.

“I’ll see you at the outpatient clinic on the fourteenth.”

Rachel unlocked her gray sedan and opened the passenger door for me.

I climbed out of the wheelchair and lowered myself onto the cold fabric seat.