IAN POV (two months later)"I can do this. I can do this," I chant over and over in my head as I stare straight ahead. My hands are on the support bars, and my legs are underneath me, but my brain is miles, no years away. The future I want is playing over and over in my mind as I encourage myself to take my first unassisted steps. My first steps without a harness or Susan supporting some of my weight. My leg muscles are protesting, but that's expected. "Come on, Ian. Walk to the walker! You can do it," Susan cheerleads, and a smile breaks across my face at my enthusiastic friend. Thank the Lord for Susan. She has been a massive factor in my progress.....and I believe she is a robot disguised as a human. I have never seen her down. I have never seen her upset or sad. Her moods range from happy to joyful to crazy excited, in that order. There is no off button when it comes to Susan. She enjoys her job and makes our sessions easy. 

IAN POVToday is the day. I am excited but also extremely nervous. Chloe has been acting strange all week. She goes from clingy to distant constantly, and it has me worried that she knows... That she knows and doesn't want to get engaged.   When I spoke to Susan about how Chloe was acting, Susan agreed. Apparently, during their workout, Chloe had drilled her about how our sessions were going. Susan felt she was digging for information on me, but she knows everything about me. We have stayed up all hours of the night talking about our thoughts. There is nothing left to learn.   "Ian, I'm going to head out back to start the party set up...I know you probably won't, but if you need me, I will be in the backyard," Mom calls from down the hall, and I grin.   "Okay," I reply loud enough for her to hear.     My legs have gotten so strong that I don't even use the walker for short distance walks..like around