I turned the wrong way and I heard a pop.

I fell to the floor

My kneecap had come out of its place.

When I shook off the initial shock

That my joints had failed me, 

I hoisted myself up and convinced myself that the pain will dull:

Denial.

The ache settled in.

I could not move or sleep.

Frustration kept me awake:

Anger.

Go back to normal,

I begged no one.

My cries unanswered:

Bargaining.

When I regained the ability to walk,

I moved gently,

Afraid to get hurt again,

Even more afraid to relive the healing that comes afterward:

Depression.

Normalcy will never come again, the doctors told me,

You are a heightened risk, 

And I have been weakened.

But what I once weathered should not scare me,

Right?

Reluctance; Acceptance.