She knelt close to the edge of the opening. Braced her hands on the walls. Stretched as far across as possible until she reached the other side. She lowered her body in a slow, cautious movement. And lay on the vent distributing her weight evenly. No telltale cracking sounds. She slid across, propelling herself forward by pushing her feet along the walls.

Clear. She collapsed on her stomach. Her whimpering muscles listened to the growing feeling of urgency inside her and calmed enough to let her get up on her hands and knees. The next vent was a lot farther thanks to the larger middle room. She continued slowly, steadily, trying to pace herself and conserve her energy.

She remembered an incident during physiotherapy at the rehab centre. Under Mike, her physiotherapist's watchful eye, Naya had practised using the walker. Each day she'd do warm up exercises then walk back and forth in the gym for an hour. She'd been so excited the first time she succeeded in crossing the entire length without stopping. Mike had timed her on the next trip in the hopes of demonstrating how fast she was progressing. A despicable six minutes to traverse a span that should have taken thirty seconds.

Naya's competitive spirit was rekindled in a way that she doubted her therapist had intended. Later that night, she'd snuck back to the gym in her wheelchair. She set the timer on her watch and headed out across the floor using a walker. Every few steps she checked the time and her smile grew wider. No problem breaking this morning's record.

Her smile vanished when her toe caught. She lurched forward. The speed that she fell surprised her. Although not as shocking as the speed with which the walker was jettisoned towards the opposite wall.

She lay on the ground stunned. Eventually she pushed herself up on her elbows. She tried to stand. With nothing to hold onto, she failed. With each attempt she'd almost get her feet under her, but her leg muscles wouldn't hold her weight. With each failed attempt she grew more tired until she collapsed on her stomach. She struggled to catch her breath and not cry. She hadn't thought things through. As usual. If she'd kept to the edge of the gym, she could have used the wall to help her stand. She wouldn't be in the middle of the gym.

Stranded.

She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Interesting. The lights were encased in metal cages. Was the administration afraid that a deranged patient was going to throw their walker, cane or prosthetic leg at the lights and break them? She lifted her head and for the first time noticed that there were basketball nets. Of course, this gym doubled as - well - a gym.

A few more minutes of drifting thoughts, she zeroed in on a single, uber important one. No way was she going to be found lying here in the morning doing trapped turtle impressions. She turned over. Pushed herself up on hands and knees. Slowly. Steadily. She crawled. Until she reached the finish line. Her walker.

Today, she reached another goal. The vent for the third room.