The things we can't control

Chapter nineteen

I looked into Grace's worried eyes. I could tell that she had been crying although she tried to hide her feelings from me. I heard her sob and Macy's grasps when Maja examined me. I wasn't stupid I knew what it meant that I couldn't feel pain beneath my neck. I was strangely calm about that and not only because of the stuff Maja gave me which is probably the reason why I'm not a sobbing mess right now.

But I was also shocked that there was a small part of me that was relieved to have a reason to stop gymnastics but those thoughts were quickly replaced with guilt as I watched how worried Grace was right know.

I don't know why she was in the gym. We haven't talked since our argument before she traveled to her first ever USWNT-camp but right know I didn't care about what was said that day and I think so does she. I was just happy she was there to help me, otherwise I don't know what would've happened.

"We are there." Maja said, and the doors of the ambulance opened. I was lifted out of the ambulance and rolled into the hospital. I couldn't see Grace and wondered were she was. "Grace?" I asked noticing the panic still lingering in my voice.

"Here." I heard and Maja also said that she is right behind me, which calmed me a little.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Evans." Said a young man who came into my field of view, wich isn't too big right now, considering that I couldn't move at all. He shone a bright light into my eyes, blinding me momentarily.

"This is Evie. Fall onto the head softened by a mat from about six and a half feet, has some neck pain and received a little Piritramid at the scene of the accident. The exact amount is noted here." I heard Maja report to the medical team that would be in charge now.

"That's all from my side. Oh, and that's her cousin, Grace." She said pointing to Grace and sending me a little wink. With that I was transferred onto the hospital stretcher as Maja and her colleague, who still hasn't told me his name, left the room.

Again I had to answer stupid questions about who I was, how old I was, where I was, what time is was and so on. They also pretended that I could wiggle my toes even though I knew that I couldn't but they obversely didn't want to worry me.  Afterwards I got an IV and was brought to the X-ray, MRT and CT. After hours of different test I was finally brought to a room and could see Grace, Macy and Jackson again.

"How are you feeling?" Asked Macy as she was the first at my bed, stroking my hair. "Tired." I said honestly and closed my eyes for a second. "You can sleep. We will wake you once the doctors have some news." Those words came from Jackson, who I couldn't see from my position but knew was there.

***

The next time I woke up it was to Grace, quietly saying my name and stroking my cheek, like she did right after my fall. It was a nice feeling and for a short while I forgot all my worries, until doctor Evans started talking.

"I have very good news Evelyn, you have no spinal cord injury." The whole room sighted and someone started crying. Then I realised that I was that someone and Grace wiped my tears away, stroking my head. "Why can't I still feel anything beneath my neck then?" I asked.

"The fall caused a lot off swelling around your neck and spinal cord area, which caused you to clamp the nerves in your neck. We will have to free those in a small and not very invasive surgery. Since you are already twenty-one we can just start the surgery with your permission, but we could also wait for a Parent." He continued to explain. "No that won't be necessary. I would just like to feel my body again. This is very uncomfortable in a weird way." He nodded and told me that I can't eat or drink anything for the next hour as they tried to schedule the surgery for that time. The doctors were confident that I would make a full recovery within the next month.