“You can't keep your seat?'

'No.' It's barely a whisper, and the heat of embarrassment scorches my skin.'

'How the hell can you not?' Her mouth hangs open.

'Because I'm not you"' I shout.

She rears back like I've slapped her, our hands breaking apart. 'But you... you look so much stronger now.'

'My joints and muscles are stronger because Imogen makes me lift these horrible weights, but that doesn't... fix me.'

Mira blanches. 'No. I didn't mean it like that, Vi. You're not anything that needs to be fixed. I just didn't know you couldn't hold your seat. Why didn't you tell me?'

'Because there's nothing you can do about it.' I force a wry smile. 'There's nothing anyone can do about the way I'm made.”