Revna stood side on to the target. She was tired, her back and shoulder muscles protested at the strain and sent tremors down her arms. The now healed, but so long damaged pectoral muscles ached and throbbed. Before the PT session was finished she had to hit the target one more time and then release the string on the bow.

With a deep release of breath out through her nose, Revna released the draw on the bow, lowering her arms. She resisted the urge to bend over and put her hands on her knees. Instead she took a slow breath, deep into every last Alveoli and let it out just as slowly. Then she rolled her shoulders back and squeezed her shoulder blades together, forcing her muscles to release. She looked back at the target, knocked the arrow to the string and raised the bow and in one fluid movement drew the fletching back to touch the corner of her mouth and released. It would have been a beautiful shot, except her shoulders spasmed, her arm jerked, and the string smacked painfully against her left inner forearm. The arrow landed the target but barely. Well it counted for PT anyway.

Eager to be done with this particular session Revna placed the bottom tip of the bow on the ground stepped her right foot between the wood and string and with her left hand gently forced the bow to bend further, just enough to release the tension on the string and release the string. Then picking up the tricorder she took out the probe and did a scan. “Computer send program details and scan results to Sickbay and to my personal console, tagged for Cpt Jameson, USS Centurion and end program.”

Revna collected the two dozen arrows and the bow, placed them in their case. Taking the case she exited the holodeck and headed back to her quarters. She was sweaty, tired, and sore. She walked through the door and set the case to the left of the door and then sat down at her desk. She complied the last two weeks worth of PT sessions and sent them off to Jameson. He had thought the bow and arrow was an excellent activity for her to work towards. It worked all those muscles that had been allowed to go toneless. Revna had always enjoyed the activity, but some days…

She began to unweave the braids and pull the beads off one by one. She was tired and rushed, ready to get them out, and had to take extra time to untangle the knot. She could hear Mike’s low laughter telling her to stop before she ruined all his hard work. She smiled as she pulled the last bead out of her hair and set it in the tray. She moved into towards the shower, dropping clothes as she went and stayed under the hot water letting it soothe sore and strained muscles, until the water went cold. At that exact moment she really missed the gigantic step down tub in their apartment on Event Horizon.

Revna towel dried and brushed her hair. Then in place of her robe she donned a deep blue button down shirt, that was too big for her. It was large and loose on her and came barely to her knees. She rolled the sleeves several times, a playful smirk on her face. She moved back towards her desk, picking up discarded clothes to be cleaned, hoping to see a message from Mike. He sent her songs regularly and she was hoping, but there were no messages. Revna moved back into the bedroom and curled onto the bed. Today was harder; the pain and soreness making the memories closer to the surface and harder to deal with. “Computer Play ‘Mike’s Playlist’ volume level 4.” (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxyFRt8cv6c57XcUfqI69hPp3HmDFk9Tf)

Leaned back against the pillows, eyes closed, Revna listened as Mike’s voice filled the room. She wasn’t getting up for anything, well one thing…one person, that was it no matter what it was. Not right now.

Revna McKenzie