She spoke with careful precision, explaining the issue, then stepped back as Daniel checked under the hood. While working, he heard a quiet sound from the back seat. A teenage girl shifted, trying to adjust the braces on her legs.
He noticed—but stayed focused.
After diagnosing the car, the girl stepped out. Her name was Sophie. She moved cautiously, thinking through every step before taking it. The braces on her legs were high-end medical equipment, but Daniel could tell they weren’t working properly. The way she adjusted her balance, the effort behind each movement—it wasn’t right.
After finishing with the car, he asked about them.
Victoria hesitated slightly, clearly used to explaining this. Sophie had a condition affecting the nerves and muscles in her legs. They’d seen specialists. The braces were the best available—but still not enough.
Daniel nodded, then asked if he could take a look.
Sophie sat on the workbench, letting him examine them. He handled them like engine parts—studying joints, balance, stress points. He flexed hinges, tested resistance, and thought about what wasn’t working.
“They’re well made,” he said.
“They are,” Victoria replied.