Arkady has dedicated his life to the world of ballet. He is known as the bad boy of the dance world, and is an ever rising star. Then he gets injured in what is at first thought to be a tragic accident but turns out to be so much worse. He's lost ballet, and his life feels unbalanced. A friendship with his no-nonsense physical therapist starts him on a new path. He has her friendship, a more honest relationship with his parents, his beloved dog Lou and, for the first time, maybe love in the form of an artist with a disability of his own. But the past isn't done with him yet.

Rise Again

“I can do that.” Arkady nods. He trusts his father with his money, partly because he trusts his father, but more because he knows his father has plenty of money. Both his parents are professors, teaching in the best universities, and both are published. They’ve made a name for themselves in academic circles. Their own parents had been wealthy, too, back in Russia. Arkady doesn’t know how much, but his parents were both left sizable amounts of money from his grandparents living outside of Russia.


“They have explained everything to you, yes?” Vsevolod asks.


“Do you mean do I know I’m a cripple now?” Arkady spits the word that Thomas had thrown out so carelessly, maybe hours before. Arkady’s unsure how long it’s been since Thomas visited and left. He still feels like he’s living inside a cloud.


“Do not speak that way, Arkady. You need to be strong. Life has taken a big kick at you. You can’t just lie down and take it,” Vsevolod says, almost angrily.


Chapter 7