Emma shuffled into the kitchen. Her hip bumped the table leg. 'Oof,' she said, rubbing her shoulder.
She found a smooth river stone on the windowsill. It was warm from the sun. Curious, Emma pressed it against her stiff neck.
She made a soft whooshing motion toward her collarbone. A tiny shiver ran through her. The heaviness in her shoulder loosened.
Emma tried the same gentle strokes on her other shoulder, then her arms, whispering 'whoosh' with each swipe.
She wiggled her fingers and jumped in place, but her knees still creaked like an old door. 'Almost there,' she told herself.
She pressed the warm stone in slow circles over her knees. Suddenly the stone glowed faint gold and hummed like a happy bumblebee.
Emma gasped as warmth flooded through her legs. She dropped the stone, bounced once, twice, three times — her feet hit the floor without a single creak.
Emma twirled across the living room rug and flopped onto her bed with a contented sigh. She pulled her blanket up to her chin and smiled at the ceiling.
