#ch:ld

“I’d love to hear how you’re doing, though! Tell me whatever you’re comfortable sharing. And if not that, I would be more than excited just to discuss your dog,” Chloe said, both honest and cheerful. It was so good to be back in Icaria and get to see the people that mattered- all of them! She couldn’t say for sure that she hadn’t changed since October, but that was okay. Luke had always been warm when they were trapped in Asphodel, even though Chloe had not been emotionally present enough to appreciate that. She was glad to catch up with him among everyone else in her grand tour de people now that she felt truly back.

It was probably pretty obvious to the rest of the people at the gym that Joanna had absolutely no idea how to use any of these machines or weights. The equipment was making some pretty interesting noises, but even Joanna could tell that they were not supposed to do that. Her shoulders were starting to hurt at this point, but she just kept reminding herself of what her high school gym teacher had said at least once a day: no pain, no gain. “And there’s the pain,” she mumbled after setting the dumbbell down unevenly. “Is more weight better or worse,” she wondered to nobody in particular as she nursed her arm.