AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Under thirty minutes, you’re going to need serious hospitalization.
Anything above that was typically death.
I remember wondering how long it had been. What was likely minutes felt like hours, and when I was retrieved, I was so relieved that I spent the next few hours sobbing–totally independent of my broken leg.
When I realized the injuries I’d sustained, I almost wished I’d died under that snow because in seconds, my Olympic qualifying run turned into the thing that could end my Olympic career for good. I was absolutely devastated.
“Haley,” the doctor had said. “There is no evidence that you cannot rehabilitate and get back to skiing.”
“But it won't be the same,” I insisted. “I won't be the same.”
And I was right. I had anticipated the pain—I hadn’t anticipated the panic.
When Max and I first returned from LA, after my physical therapist had officially released me from his immediate care, I thought I’d just jump back onto the slopes and resume my old life. But the minute my toes went into those boots, I felt like Icouldn’t breathe. Like the weight of that snow came down on me once again, and I nearly broke a window for throwing the shoe across the room so hard.
Little by little, Max had managed to coax me into the gear and onto the snow. But I had yet to master the ski lift, never mind actually skiing itself.
Max grabbed my hands and walked around me to face me. “Haley, you are so strong. We aren’t gonna ski; we’re just gonna take a ride on the lift. It will be like a roller coaster.”
It sounded reasonable to the intelligent and logical side of my brain, but the roaring in my chest was screaming, “ DANGER, DANGER, DANGER!”
“But what if it collapses while we’re on it?” I asked, eyeing the next seat passing us by.
“The ski lifts?” Max asked.
“Yeah.”
“Haley…”
He didn’t sound distinctly annoyed, but I knew anyone’s patience would run thin at a certain point.
“Can’t we just hang out in the lodge today?”
Max’s face fell a little, and I felt the wave of disappointment. “We can, of course. But how are you gonna get back into fighting shape if we can’t even get you on the ski lift?”
“I guess I don’t,” I said with a little more bite than intended.
“Haley…”
“It’s fine. I’m done skiing. I just have to accept that I will never get on snow again without wanting to throw up.”
Max didn’t seem to know what to say to that, so he took my hand, and we walked back to the ski lodge utterly defeated.
Anna was in the lobby when we entered, and she waved at me, then looked at Max, who must have indicated to her that I was upset because she held up a finger to the employee she’d been talking to and came over.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I’m broken forever, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” I replied.
Anna sighed. “Maybe it’s time for you to have a second appointment with Doctor Harzel.”
“Oh yes,” I said. “That’s exactly what I need right now. Another bill to pay.”
I felt like crying. I felt like running as far away from the resort and the slopes as I could.
“Why don’t you two go relax in the hot tubs?” Anna suggested. “Nearly none of them are being used at this time of the day.
This did manage to garner a smile from me. Anna had gone from former college girl, floating through life trying to find her purpose, to now being Kevin’s little co-owner. It was precious.
