Cheer, crutches and love
Chapter 9
"Everything okay?" Nick's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.
I forced a smile. "Yeah, just tired." I lied.
He nodded, but I could tell he wasn't fully convinced. He knew me well enough by now to sense when something was on my mind.
As the miles stretched on, I kept replaying the conversation with my mom. I knew she meant well, and in some ways, she was right. I should be careful. But there was this fire inside me that wouldn't allow me to slow down. The final competition was everything. I had to prove to myself that I could come back stronger, that this injury hadn't broken me.
Nick reached over and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "You know, you don't have to rush back into things. You're healing at your own pace."
I looked at him, my heart warming at his concern. "I know, but... you don't understand. I can't miss the final competition. I've worked too hard for this. I need to be ready."
He sighed, his eyes flicking between me and the road. "I get that it's important, but what happens if you push too hard and end up making things worse? You've come so far, Hailey. I don't want to see you hurt again."
His words hit me like a gut punch, but I tried to brush them off. "I'll be fine. I know my body, and I know what I can handle."
Nick didn't push it further, but I could feel the weight of his worry. I appreciated his concern, but he didn't know what it felt like to be so close to a dream, only to have it threatened by something beyond your control. I had to fight for this. I had to push through the pain.
As the car rolled into the driveway, I exhaled, feeling the tension in my chest loosen slightly. I knew I had to be careful, but in my mind, there was no other option. The competition was looming, and I was determined to be ready...even if it meant pushing my limits.
Nick parked the car and turned to me, his eyes soft with concern. "Just promise me you'll listen to your body, okay?"
I nodded, leaning over to kiss him softly. "I promise." But deep down, I knew my determination would always push me beyond what was safe. It was a risk I was willing to take.
The moment Nick turned off the ignition and stepped out, something shifted in me. I looked down at my crutches, my bandaged ankle, and without thinking, I made a decision right then and there. It was time to start my return, no waiting, no hesitation.
I swung one crutch over to the back seat and left it there. Grabbing just one crutch, I hoisted myself out of the car, taking a deep breath. The cool air hit me as I stood on my feet, the familiar pain in my ankle reminding me it wasn't fully healed. But instead of relying on both crutches, I limped forward, letting my weight rest more on my injured leg.
Nick turned to look at me, confusion crossing his face. "Hailey... what are you doing?"
I smiled at him, my heart racing with determination. "I'm starting my comeback now," I said, limping toward the house. "One crutch from now on.'
He moved toward me, concern etched in his features. "Are you sure? You don't want to push too hard right away."
But I just shook my head, taking another limping step forward. "I've been off my feet long enough, It's time."
He watched me carefully, as if he was ready to catch me if I faltered. And I could feel his tension, the worry in his eyes. But at that moment, nothing could hold me back. Each step felt like a victory, a small but important one.
As I limped toward the front door, I could feel the pain, but it was bearable, almost like a reminder of how far I'd come. The road ahead wouldn't be easy, but I had made my choice. From this moment on, I was done holding back.
Nick sighed softly but followed me up the path, staying close but not stopping me. "Just don't overdo it, okay?"
I glanced at him, giving him a reassuring smile. "I won't. But I've got to start somewhere."
The smell of sweat, chalk, and determination filled the gym as I sat on the bench, my leg stretched out in front of me. The buzz of excitement and nerves hummed in the background, with my teammates going through their warm-ups. But right now, my focus was entirely on Nick, kneeling in front of me, carefully wrapping my ankle in supportive bandage that had become a necessary routine.
"How's that?" Nick asked, his voice low and steady, as he looked up at me, his hands smoothing the wrap securely around my ankle. His fingers lingered for a moment, ensuring it was tight enough to give me support but loose enough to allow movement.
"Perfect," I murmured, watching his focused expression. His concern had been constant through this whole ordeal, but he knew how much this meant to me, how much I needed to be out there again.
Nick sat back, eyes scanning my leg, the once full leg cast now a distant memory, replaced by the tightness of the wrap. "Are you sure you're ready?" His tone was gentle but laced with that familiar worry. I leaned forward and gave him a reassuring smile, even though my heart was pounding. "I've been ready for weeks," I lied, placing my hand on his shoulder.
He nodded, though I could see the internal battle in his eyes. He wanted me to be safe, but he also knew he couldn't keep me from this. Not now. Not when I was so close. He stood, offering his hand to help me up.
With a deep breath, I took his hand and pulled myself to my feet, testing the weight on my ankle. There was still a dull ache, but it was manageable. I had trained hard, spent countless hours rebuilding my strength. This was my moment.
"Just don't push too hard. You've come this far, don't ruin it now."
I chuckled softly, more to ease my nerves than anything else. "I know, I know. Slow and steady." But in the back of my mind, I knew I wasn't going to hold back. Not today.
The sounds of the rhythmic breathing of my teammates filled the space. They were already deep into their routines, focused and driven. My heart swelled with pride. The familiar stretch of my muscles, the pull of my body moving in ways it hadn't for months, sent a rush of adrenaline through me. I started slow, just like we had planned. Light exercises, testing my ankle, seeing how far I could push without crossing the line.
Nick stayed close, watching every move, his eyes never leaving me. It was both comforting and frustrating. I knew he was there out of love, but I also knew he was scared I'd push too hard. After several minutes of warm-up, the ache in my ankle was there, but I powered through it. I had to. The competition was just weeks away, and I didn't have time to waste. Every second counted.
I started the drills slowly, feeling the strain in my ankle with each step, but it wasn't unbearable. The rhythm came back naturally, my body remembering what it needed to do. Step after step, I pushed harder, my focus narrowing to just me and the floor beneath me.
But then, as I hit my stride, a sharp pain shot through my ankle, and I stumbled slightly, my balance wavering. Nick was there in an instant, his arms steadying me before I could fall.
"That's enough for today," he said firmly, his voice full of that protective tone I knew too well.
"No, I'm fine. I can keep going," but the pain in my ankle told me he was right
"Not today. You've pushed enough."
Cheer, crutches and love
Chapter 10 to come
K
