Solace Escape

Kabanata 21

Long chapter ahead! Please read with caution. Sensitive topics will be discussed.

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Kabanata 21

My whole life is at the soles of my feet, in highest tiptoes—how ironic it is to end up getting stomp, crashing all the thing I've worked hard for years?

I couldn't comprehend in words and grasp for reasons why it is that the only thing that's keeping me alive and sane was also taken away from me?

If it's the fate's way for me to face my bad deeds and get a taste of my karma... parang... parang sobra naman ata? Parang 'di ko kakayanin? Parang...

Mas sumikip ang dibdib ko at kinuyom ang kamay.

"Darling..." Mom whispered beside me.

No, no, no... I must be overreacting, right? I just landed incorrectly. It's just like tripping, right? After some rest, I'll be back to dancing!

"Good afternoon," kaagad na hinanap ng mata ko ang pinagmulan ng boses at nakita ang lalaking may asul na mga mata't suot ang isang lab coat.

"Roux..." tumayo si Dad para batiin ang doktor na pumasok.

"Zeij," the doctor greeted back. They did a quick man hug bago lumingon sa akin ang Daddy, ang mga mata'y malamlam.

"Is this your daughter?" the tall man asked. I noticed how he and Dad looked a bit alike. I saw tattoos peeking from his neck.

"Yes," tumango si Dad at lumapit sila sa akin. "Thank you for seeing us. I know you're busy."

"It's nothing, really," umiling ang lalaki at tinapik ang likod ni Dad. "It's been so long since we last saw each other. Isa pa, it's nice finally seeing my nieces and nephews."

It stunned me hearing him speaking in Tagalog but got over it quickly.

"This is my wife, Alyx," Dad introduced. Mom smiled a bit and shook his hand. "And these are my children, Zion, Zire and Sibyl. Mga anak, this is your Uncle Roux," Dad introduced us to him.

We greeted him back. I can't find a genuine smile but managed to give him a force one which I hope he'd appreciated. Tumango siya sa akin at ngumiti pabalik.

"I just got the x-rays. You fell from a stunt, Sibyl? Ballerina, correct?" he inquired.

Nervously, I nodded, hopeful for good news from him.

"Can you elaborate what happened?"

"I-I..." I find it painful to remember everything, "My co-ballerina was lifting me up for a move and I was supposed to jump down in tiptoes when I landed incorrectly. I heard a s-snap and... I fell..."

Kumuyom ang kamay ko at humugot ng hininga. Pinisil ni Mommy ang kamay ko at hinalikan ang buhok ko bago bumulong para kalmahin ako.

"Based on what your x-ray results showed, what happened to you was a common dance injury. You have a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament or what we referred as an ACL injury." My hand shook upon hearing it. I felt my mom gripping it harder.

Of course, I knew it, I've heard it before. I knew how dancers lost their motivation to dance because of it. I know how it killed dreams and hearing it from an orthopedic surgeon confirmed my assumptions.

This is the end for me...

"She will be okay, right?" Mom asked, "what should we do, Doc?"

"Of course, she will be okay. However, this would take extra measures since Sibyl is a professional dancer—a ballerina at that. After her surgery, she would have to undergo physical therapies—"