Cheer, crutches and love conclusion

 Cheer, crutches and love

Conclusion

With one last kiss on my forehead, he stepped back, letting me join my team again. My heart pounded in my chest, but it was different now, more determined than nervous. The gym lights felt brighter, the hum of the crowd growing louder in the background. This was it. Months of pain, recovery, and relentless training had all led to this moment.

As we stepped onto the floor, shoulder to shoulder, I felt a wave of calm wash over me. My friends, my coach, and Nick, they were all here, and I wasn't doing this alone. Today, I would prove to myself and everyone else that I was back. Stronger. Unbreakable. Ready.

The music blared, sending a jolt of adrenaline coursing through my veins. The lights bounced off the bright uniforms of our team, glittering in sync with the beat, and the sound of the crowd, cheers, claps, and excited gasps,created a buzzing energy that filled the space. We were in the zone, completely locked into the rhythm and flow of our routine. Every move, every jump, every cheer was sharp, precise, and powerful.

Emma and the girls took their places, and within seconds, our formations were seamless. The stunts we'd practised for weeks flew higher than ever, with flawless landings that had the audience gasping. The lifts soared with grace, and the pyramids we'd built with determination stood strong, towering over the mat like a symbol of our hard work.

In the middle of it all, I moved with a renewed sense of purpose. Every jump felt lighter, every movement flowed with precision. My crutches were gone, replaced with confidence, and my ankle, wrapped securely, held firm. I focused on the moment, letting the rush of adrenaline drown out any lingering doubts about my injury.

The crowd erupted as we transitioned into the more difficult stunts. Our flyers launched into the air, twisting and turning like they weighed nothing. I could hear the gasps from the audience as they watched the flips, the throws, and the perfect landings. The roar of approval from the stands grew louder with each passing second.

Nick was out there somewhere in the crowd, and knowing he was watching made me want to give this everything I had. My teammates moved like one, every toss and catch coordinated to perfection. The energy was infectious, and I felt it surging through every muscle as we hit the next formation.

Then, the music shifted into the final section, the moment I'd been waiting for. The choreography had been designed specifically for me, a test of both my skill and my comeback. The final segment of the show was mine, and I was going to own it.

I stepped out in front of the team, taking center stage. The crowd grew even louder as they realized what was coming. This was it, the grand finale.

With a deep breath, I launched into a series of backflips, my body flipping through the air in perfect unison with the beat. My ankle, braced but strong, held steady as I landed with precision. The mat under my feet felt solid, and I pushed off for the next round flip after flip, each one faster and sharper than the last.

Then came the twirls. I spun gracefully across the mat and in the air, my arms outstretched, feeling the wind rush past me as I turned. The world blurred for a moment, but I was fully in control. My body moved with a fluidity that made me feel invincible. I twirled, one leg extended in front of me, and then pivoted to finish the move with a flawless pose.

The crowd exploded. The sound was deafening, a wall of applause and cheers rising up like a wave. My teammates were cheering too, their excitement matching mine. But I wasn't done yet.

I set my gaze on the opposite end of the mat, the farthest point from where I stood. My heart raced, but I was ready. I took off running, gaining momentum with every step. Then, in one powerful motion, I launched into a series of aerials. Flip after flip, my body soared across the mat, the final push of energy pouring from every muscle. I hit the ground hard, in my mind, never faltering, each movement seamless.

The entire arena seemed to hold its breath and rise up as one. Then, just before the music ended, I added one last flip, a bold, risky move that had taken me weeks to perfect. I flipped through the air, twisting mid-flight, and landed solidly in the center of the mat.

The rest of the crowd jumped to their feet. It felt like the world had paused for just a second, like every challenge and every struggle I'd faced to get here had been worth it. This was the end of my cheerleading career and I would be able to concentrate on becoming the best doctor I could.

I saw Nick, this moment was ours, my comeback, his support, our journey.

4 weeks later, my hospital was bustling with activities. I was in my third rotation about 4 weeks from my last cheerleading presentation. Suddenly, I heard his voice from the hallway, familiar and teasing.

"Paging Doctor Hailey, paging Doctor Hailey," Nick called out in a sing-song tone, his voice echoing down the corridor. I saw him walk towards me.He leaned in closer, his lips meeting mine in a soft kiss. I felt a rush of warmth as our tongues gently brushed against each other, a moment of intimacy.

He had to lean down because I was sitting in a wheelchair with white casts on both of my lower legs, ankles and feet. That was the reality of my new situation sinking in with each passing second since my last landing because you remember that I added one last flip...

Yes I know I flipped through the air, twisting mid-flight, and landed solidly in the center of the mat... but the hard impact also broke both of my ankles..

"Well, Doctor Hailey, you certainly know how to keep things exciting, I saw you apply the cast on this woman's leg while sitting in your own wheelchair with 2 broken ankles."

I lifted my head, looking up at him with a devilish smile, I licked my lips. "I know you would have preferred 2 sprained ankles but I always aim to impress and surprise."

He leaned in closer again, his lips meeting mine, a moment that briefly made me forget about the heavy casts around my ankles. But then he pulled back, his eyes falling down to the two white casts resting on the footrests of my wheelchair.

His expression softened, admiration flashing across his face as he took in the sight of my injured limbs.

"I still can't believe it, what a finally to a great cheerleading career" he whispered, his hand reaching out to gently touch the edge of the cast on my right ankle.

"Yeah... neither can I. One second, I was in the air, and the next... I felt it. Both ankles. I knew right away they were broken"

Nick exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "You had to do one extra last flip? The one that got everyone on their feet"

I nodded, replaying the moment in my mind. The adrenaline, the cheers of the crowd, the rush of flipping through the air, it had been perfect until the very end. I'd pushed off for that final landing, and in an instant, I felt and heard the sharp crack in both ankles as I hit the mat. The pain shot up my legs, and I not so gracefully collapsed.

I closed my eyes. "But now look at me," I whispered, gesturing to the casts on my legs.

Nick took my hand, squeezing it gently. "Now you're recovering for the very last time. And I'll be here every step of the way, just like I've always been."

I'd come back from this injury, just like I had before. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but eventually...I had a wedding to plan and I will be on my own two feet walking down the aisle... that I promise you.

The end
K