Held Together
Copyright© 2026 by Heel
Chapter 4
Two weeks passed in careful stillness.
Pain softened into a distant, manageable presence, no longer sharp or overwhelming. The traction had done its work—slowly, relentlessly—holding her bones in place while her body began the quiet labor of healing. Dara learned patience the hard way, measuring time by nurse visits and the steady certainty that nothing was allowed to move.
When the doctors spoke to her about the body cast, she felt relief instead of fear.
“It will replace the traction,” the orthopedic surgeon explained. “Your fractures are stable enough now. The cast will support your spine and all four limbs together. You’ll be fully immobilized—but comfortable.”
Comfort sounded like mercy.
The casting room was warm and bright. Several people were there, moving with practiced calm. Her traction was released gradually, weights removed one by one while hands immediately took their place—supporting her legs, her torso, her shoulders. She never felt unheld.
Her legs were lifted first.
They were raised and carefully positioned, elevated and slightly bent at the knees, supported so the healing fractures remained perfectly aligned. Padding was slid beneath them, thick and soft, shaping around calves and thighs. Even without looking, she could feel the attention given to every angle.
Her arms were next.
They were lifted gently and positioned almost vertically, angled upward beside her head, supported and aligned to protect shoulders, elbows, and wrists. It felt strange at first—so exposed, so deliberate—but the padding quickly followed, cushioning her arms from shoulders to hands, leaving only her fingers free.
Then the lining layer enveloped her.
Soft padding wrapped her torso, hips, arms, and legs, forming a continuous foundation. It cradled her spine completely, molding to the natural curve of her back, supporting it from neck to pelvis. She felt cocooned before the plaster even began.
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