How was I going to bring Cassie back to Germany safely? I had dreaded this day for years. Yes—years. I had spent so much time trying to figure out the best way to do it, pouring so much worry into every possible scenario. It’s safe to say it had been stressing me out for a very long time. But we did it. It cost me a lot of money—and yes, there were probably cheaper ways—but at least it’s done and over with. I can finally put that weight behind me.
Back in Germany, both Vira and Cassie were surprised to see each other again. But they quickly found their way back to being friends.
One ongoing challenge that’s been especially tough is dealing with persistent knee pain. It started in late February, and what I initially hoped would be a minor issue lasting a week or two has dragged on far longer than expected. Figuring out exactly what’s causing this pain has been difficult, and the lack of progress has added a layer of frustration to my daily life. At the time I’m writing this, the most likely culprit seems to be quadriceps tendinopathy. Nothing too serious—just incredibly annoying, since it’s all too easy to trigger a painful flare-up that can set me back for weeks. Will it ever end, I wonder? Probably. But I’m honestly just madly frustrated that I haven’t been able to do any leg workouts.
Luckily, I can both walk and run without pain. And walking—I’ve been doing a lot of that lately! I try to get in 4–6 km a day, which is really the minimum Cassie needs. I do feel guilty for not doing more, but unlike her, my energy isn’t unlimited. I’m still in a calorie deficit, still working on cutting down fat, and it’s been going better since I got back to Germany. I just have to keep going a little longer—hopefully, long enough to finally reach my goal.
