Free Riggs Crossing by Michelle Heeter

the pain would wake me up.
    Scott stuffs the ultrasound films back into their envelope and looks at me, his mouth pursed into a line. ‘Your condition is known as Swimmer’s Shoulder. It’s an overuse injury that can be caused by poor technique or overtraining. It appears that you deliberately pushed yourself too hard in the pool, in spite of my instructions to start out slowly.’
    Scott’s getting angry with me is starting to make me angry. I’m the one in pain, after all.
    ‘Why can’t you just tell me what to do about it and skip the lecture?’
    Scott looks even more annoyed than he was before. ‘Len, in addition to your physical problems, you have a serious attitude problem. If you’d followed my instructions in the first place, you wouldn’t have a new injury that might well be permanent.’
    Scott sighs and starts writing on a notepad. ‘I conferred with Dr Mengers and he agreed that prescription anti-inflammatories are not appropriate. You can take Nurofen for the pain. The medication will be dispensed by Lyyssa or other Resident Counsellors.’
    ‘I think I’m old enough to take it myself.’
    Scott doesn’t look up from his notepad. ‘Serious athletes, especially stubborn ones like you, often exceed the recommended dosage in order to mask the pain and continue training at an inappropriate pace.’
    Scott keeps writing. I look around the room. There’s an anatomy chart of the human muscular system on the wall.
    ‘Can I have a copy of that chart?’
    ‘No,’ Scott says sourly. He purses his mouth some more and keeps writing on his notepad.
    I look at his strawberry blond hair, his pale eyelashes. He’s wearing khaki trousers, a pink polo shirt, and white New Balance cross-trainers without a single scuff mark on them.
    ‘Are you gay?’
    Scott smacks his pen down on the desk and rips the page from the notepad.
    Ha. I knew he was gay.
    ‘I want you to follow this regimen exactly. Swimming three times a week, max, supervised by Kelly or another qualified instructor. She can design a workout to maintain the strength in your legs without aggravating your shoulder. Stuff like aqua jogging and treading water with leg weights. Do not strain yourself. Ice your shoulder for twenty minutes afterwards.’ Scott hands me the page of instructions, his hand shaking just a little. ‘Make an appointment at the desk to come see me in a month. And when you come back, leave the ’tude at home.’
    ’Tude. That’s American. Scott probably heard it on TV.

Chapter 17

    Progress Report
    Len Russell (AKA Samantha Patterson)

    Len presented a subdued and quiet demeanour in the days following her recovery from a probable case of food poisoning. She seemed to deliberately avoid conflict with her fellow IWYR residents, and this non–confrontational attitude was reciprocated.
    Approximately two weeks after Len’s illness, she requested an appointment with physiotherapist Scott Nelson. Scott, in concert with Dr Mengers of St Stephen’s Hospital, has developed a program to help Len recover from her injuries and maintain a healthy level of flexibility and muscle development. Since her first consultation with Scott, Len has shown extraordinary motivation to improve her fitness and achieved excellent results.
    Len reported pain in her left shoulder and elbow. It is unusual for Len to admit pain. Len has never faked illness and is loath to admit any weakness. I immediately arranged an appointment with Scott at St Stephen’s physiotherapy unit.
    Before Len had returned to the shelter after her scheduled appointment, I received a phone call from Scott, who reported that Len had questioned his professional judgment and taunted him about his sexuality. Scott is married, but currently identifies as bisexual and has recently separated from his wife. Scott reported that as a result of Len’s comments, he is taking two weeks stress leave.
    I invited Len to my office for a conference as soon as she returned to IWYR. I explained