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can’t be that simple surely?” He asked when Colin returned with an extra pair of surgical socks.
    Colin laughed as he rolled the socks onto David’s thighs.
    “Blame your brain. It can’t help it apparently. It doesn’t recognize that your legs are no longer there. You know that the pain can’t be there because you can see that you have no limbs but your brain hasn’t yet accepted that fact so it feels as if your feet and legs are actually hurting. Don’t worry, no one thinks you’re going mad. It’s real pain, not imagined. Everyone says this sort of phantom feeling is one of the worst things about losing a limb.”
    David grunted miserably.
    “Well, it’s painful that’s for sure but I’m not certain it is the worst thing actually. I just feel like shit all the time. If I didn’t have a sister who would do anything for me I probably would have cut my own throat before now. I’ve been a grumpy bastard with her and she’s not bitten back once yet.” He wasn’t joking and the physiotherapist knew it.
    “Everyone goes through that stage and it’s no good me saying anything to try and make you feel better about yourself because it won’t work. I know that you lot get training and pre conflict counselling but nothing can prepare you for the shock of something as severe as this. You are lucky that your sister is so supportive but going out or getting back to work will help too. Feeling useless is the worst thing ever. You need to have purpose in life, everyone does. It makes you feel that you are worthwhile. Have you had any word from your regiment?”
    David nodded and then grinned.
    “They’ve offered me a desk job for a start. I can go back anytime I feel ready. To be honest I can’t wait. I’m missing all the general camaraderie and I want to go back soon so that Ellen can move on with her own life. She’s given up nearly everything to support me. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her but she needs to move on as much as I do.”
    Colin nodded. Family support was so important but at some point you had to let go and get on with it yourself.
    “Family can try and smother you sometimes but I’ve met your sister. She’s obviously a wonderful person, beautiful too. All the guys moon over her when she’s about.”
    David raised his eyebrows as he noticed Colin’s wistful expression.
    “She’s engaged you know.” David gritted his teeth over the words. He’d hardly been able to believe it when Ellen had turned up from a shopping trip in London with a huge diamond ring on her finger only a few weeks earlier.
    Colin sighed audibly.
    “Yes, to a flipping jerk by the looks of him. I saw him not so long back. He wouldn’t come in but stood outside preening himself as he looked at his own flipping reflection in the window. Makes me sick that he is so vain what with everything that goes on in here. How on earth did she end up with someone like him? Makes the mind boggle sometimes.”
    David grunted in agreement and glanced up at the clock on the wall. Ellen wouldn’t be back for another half an hour. He turned back to Colin.
    “She started going out with him when she was at university. He was alright back then I suppose. It’s as he’s grown older that he’s become an idiot. I swear he was going to chuck her last year but after we inherited from our great aunt he just hung around. I know he’s just after her money now but she was lonely with me away all the time and she’s not the sort to play the field. He’s just someone familiar and she won’t give him up yet but I think she’ll come to her senses soon. I’m pretty sure she won’t get married to him.” He crossed his fingers as he spoke. “She has a brilliant idea for a new business but Justin doesn’t agree with it. He thinks she’s wasting her time and money but I can’t see her backing down on it. I’m sure she’ll end it with him soon. That’s another reason I want to get back to work as soon as