The assessment lasted nearly an hour.
Grip strength.
Arm movement.
Standing balance.
Walking with a forearm support.
Following two-step instructions while moving.
Identifying objects placed out of view.
The physical tasks frustrated him.
The combined tasks exhausted him.
Joel asked him to walk six paces, stop, name three tools used in his work, turn, and return to the chair.
Noah made it four paces.
“Multimeter,” he said.
Another step.
“Crimper.”
He stopped.
His face tightened.
The third word would not come.
His left hand flexed uselessly.
“Take your time,” Joel said.
Noah looked at me.
I gave him nothing.
Not because I did not know.
Because the task belonged to him.
“Stripper,” he said finally. “Wire stripper.”
Then he turned too fast.
The room shifted.
I was beside him before Joel reached him.
Noah caught my forearm.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re pale.”
