As the old saying goes, "It takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone," and while you haven''t broken anything, your muscle sprain is still going to need some time to fully recover. On the surface, the swelling might be down, but the muscles and fascia underneath are still on the mend. Only time can heal that."
Owen Reynolds paused for a moment, considering his options. "Do you think seeing a physical therapist could help?"
"If you have the means, of course. But it''s more supplementary. Rest is the most vital part."
After leaving the hospital, Owen suddenly spoke up, "Let''s go somewhere."
Roseanne looked puzzled. "Where?"
Twenty minutester, they parked on the side of the road.
Owen led her across the street, down a narrow alleyway.
After a few twists and turns, they stopped in front of a quaint little herbal clinic.
"Vitalis Remedies?" Roseanne read the sign made of some dark, polished wood hanging above the door.
Owen walked in like he owned the ce. "Mr. Carter?"
There was no response.
He called out again, "Mr. Carter, are you here?"
"Coming,ing-"
A curtain at the back of the shop was pulled aside, and out came an elderly man with a full head of white hair and a long beard. He was dressed in a cozy cardigan with an apron tied around his waist, looking every bit like a wise old sage from a fairy tale.
"You rascal! How long has it been since you came to visit me? I could hear your racket all the way from the back where I was mixing herbs! Oh, you didn''te alone today, did you? You brought a youngdy with you!"
The old man''s eyes twinkled with curiosity.
Owen quickly introduced the two of them.
Roseanne learned that Mr. Carter was ny years old and had retired with honors from Seraph General Hospital. Unable to sit idle, he opened this herbal clinic in a quiet corner of the city, and it was a hidden gem.
He only saw patients three days a week, and only in the mornings.
It was two in the afternoon, so the clinic was quiet. But if you came in the morning, the alley would be bustling with people.
"What seems to be bothering you, youngdy?"
Roseanne was taken aback. "How did you know it was me? Couldn''t it be Mr. Reynolds?"
Mr. Carter nced at Owen. "Ha! He would nevere to me willingly. Let me tell you a secret-he''s afraid of needles!"
"Really?"
"This rascal runs for the hills if he
even me pick up a needle.
way he''de here on his omelet
ord."
Roseanne was amused. "Professor, are you really afraid of needles?"
"...Ahem!"
His cough said it all.
Roseanne couldn''t help but smile.
Trying to move past the awkward moment, Owen quickly exined her injury:
"She sprained her ankle a week ago The swelling''s gone down, but i still
tender when pressed. Couet
take a look?"
you
Mr. Carter nodded, pointing to a wooden chair. "Come, sit down, prop your foot up
here, and let me have a look."
Roseanne sat, rolling up her pant leg.
Mr. Carter pressed on a few spots, asking, "Does this hurt?"
Roseanne shook her head, "No, it doesn''t."
He pressed a few more areas. "How about now?"
"A little bit."
He then took her wrist to check her pulse, his fingers gently resting on her skin as his brow furrowed in concentration. After a moment, he spoke The pulse seems fine. It''s likely just a surface-level injury, nothing too serious. The tenderness around your ankle is normal, but I could do some acupuncture to help
ease the difort."
Roseanne had never had acupuncture before, only seen it on TV. She bit her lip
and hesitated, "Does it hurt?"
"Don''t worry, it''spletely painless."
Roseanne wasn''t entirely convinced.
Owen reassured her, "It''s okay, it really doesn''t hurt."
"Professor, have you ever had acupuncture?"
Uh...
"No, I haven''t."
"Then how do you know it doesn''t hurt?"
Owen was at a loss for words.
Mr. Carter chuckled, watching their exchange with amusement.