Day does not walk. Day skips, Day runs, Day leaps but, most of all, Day dances. She dances at class, she dances in my living room, and, when she forgets the household rules, she dances down the narrow hallway, usually avoiding most of the other household occupants. Even in a chair, Day moves to some internal beat much of the time. With Day, living and dancing are synonymous.

But this week is going to be a long one. Day is forbidden to dance. She is not to skip, she is not to run, she is not to leap, she is not to play field hockey in gym, and, most of all, she is not to dance. She has an inflamed tendon in her knee and the doctor was very clear that she needs to give it a chance to heal. No running, leaping, skipping, or dancing for a week. No hopping, no extensive walking, and no going on a step stool (which, for a short person, is a necessity.)

It's only been approximately twenty-four hours and already the pain in the knee is the least of it. The pain in her soul is far greater. The lack of physical movement makes the walls close in. She did several abdominal crunches a few minutes ago just to feel herself move even though she does not particularly like crunches. Any large physical movement was preferable to staying still.

Keeping Day down is not easy. Even though her knee hurts, sometimes she just can't remember not to dance. Dancing is like breathing, isn't it? You just do it without thinking. If you're Day, it just happens. I feel like a cloud raining on her parade when I remind her to walk.

But, if she does as she should, it should only be a week and she can be back to all movement all the time. She will be able to skip, to run, to leap, and to dance.

No one has pushed the "stop" button. Day is just on pause.

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