Hoops & Harmonies

34.

Angel and Monica drove through the quiet streets of their neighborhood, heading to Angel's physical therapy appointment. Angel's wrist surgery had been a success, but now came the hard part—rehabilitation. Physical therapy was a crucial step in her recovery, and while she wasn't thrilled about the long road ahead, Angel knew it was necessary if she ever wanted to get back on the court. Still, there was a heaviness in the car, a tension that neither had spoken about yet.

"Are you ready for today?" Monica asked, glancing over at Angel, her voice soft yet supportive.

Angel shrugged, her eyes focused on the road ahead. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess. I just want this to be over. I hate feeling like this... helpless, you know?"

Monica nodded. "I get it. But you're doing great, babe. It's just going to take some time."

Angel sighed. "Time. That's what everyone keeps saying." She looked down at her wrist, still wrapped in a brace. "But what if it's not the same? What if I can't play the way I used to?"

Monica reached over, placing her hand gently on Angel's leg. "You will. And even if it's different, you're still you. You'll adapt, just like you always do. You're stronger than you think."

Angel managed a small smile, but the doubt still lingered in her mind. The injury had shaken her confidence, and though she tried to stay positive, the fear of the unknown gnawed at her. She had spent her life playing basketball, and now, for the first time, the future seemed uncertain.

As they arrived at the physical therapy center, Monica parked the car and turned to Angel. "We've got this. One step at a time."

Angel nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah. One step at a time."

The physical therapy session was intense, as Angel had expected. The therapist worked on strengthening her wrist, helping her regain flexibility and mobility. It was painful, the dull ache of her healing bones mixed with the frustration of not being able to do the things she once could without a second thought. Every stretch, every bend, every motion reminded her of how far she had to go.

Monica sat nearby, watching with a mixture of concern and admiration. She could see how much it hurt Angel, not just physically but emotionally as well. Angel was a fighter, but this was testing her in ways she hadn't anticipated.

After what felt like hours, the session finally ended. Angel wiped the sweat from her forehead, her wrist throbbing, but she could sense a small victory in the progress she had made. It wasn't much, but it was something.

"You did great today," Monica said as they headed back to the car.

Angel winced as she climbed into the passenger seat. "It didn't feel great."

Monica smiled and started the car. "You're getting stronger every day. You've just got to be patient."

"Patience," Angel muttered. "Not my strong suit."

Back at home, the tension in the air seemed to return as soon as they stepped through the front door. The physical therapy session had drained Angel, but something else weighed heavily on both of their minds. For weeks now, the conversation had been dancing around them, unspoken but always present. It wasn't just about basketball or Angel's injury. It was about their future, the one that extended beyond the court.

After settling in, Monica made her way to the kitchen to make some tea while Angel sat down on the couch, cradling her wrist. The silence between them was comfortable, but there was an unspoken weight to it.

Finally, Monica broke the silence. "We should talk about it."

Angel looked up, knowing exactly what Monica meant but not ready to go there just yet. "Talk about what?"

"You know what," Monica said, bringing over two mugs of tea and sitting beside her. "The baby. Or adopting. We've been putting off the conversation, but I think it's time we really talk about it."

Angel sighed, leaning back against the couch. "I know. I've been thinking about it a lot, but with everything going on... it's just... I don't know if I'm ready."

Monica nodded, taking a sip of her tea before placing it down on the coffee table. "I get that. I do. But we can't avoid it forever. We've talked about wanting to add to our family, and I think it's important we figure out what that looks like for us now."

Angel stared at her wrist, still feeling the soreness from therapy. "Do you think we should try... you know, having a baby?"

Monica leaned in closer, her eyes soft but serious. "I want whatever's best for us. If we want to try having our own, I'm all for it. But if we decide to adopt, that would be beautiful too. I just want to make sure we're on the same page, whatever we choose."

Angel exhaled slowly, her mind racing. "I do want a family with you, Mon. But I'm scared. What if I can't handle it? What if I can't be the mom I want to be?"

Monica's hand found Angel's, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You'll be an amazing mom. And we'll figure it out together, just like we always do. No one has all the answers, but we'll take it one step at a time."

"I don't know if I want to try carrying a baby with everything going on," Angel admitted. "What if something happens? With basketball, my wrist... it's all just too much."

Monica nodded, understanding the fear behind Angel's words. "Then maybe we explore adoption. It doesn't have to be right now, but we can start looking into it. There's no rush."

Angel looked into Monica's eyes, the fear slowly starting to fade as she realized they were in this together. "You're right. We've been through a lot already, and I know we can handle this. But it's still scary."

"Of course it is," Monica said softly. "But we don't have to figure everything out today. Let's take it slow. We can talk to some adoption agencies, do some research, and just see what feels right."

Angel nodded, feeling the tension in her shoulders start to loosen. "Okay. We'll take it slow."

Monica smiled and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "I love you, you know that?"

Angel chuckled softly. "I know. I love you too."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping their tea and letting the weight of the conversation settle. The idea of starting a family had always been something they both wanted, but now that it was becoming more real, it felt daunting.

"We'll figure it out," Monica said after a while. "Whether it's having a baby or adopting one, we'll make it work. We're in this together."

Angel smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. "Yeah. Together."

Later that evening, they sat down with their laptops, beginning to research adoption agencies and learning more about the process. They laughed at the absurdity of some of the requirements and felt their hearts warm at the stories of families who had gone through the journey.

It wasn't going to be easy—nothing ever was—but knowing they were taking the first steps toward building their family filled both of them with hope and excitement for the future.

Angel leaned into Monica's shoulder, her wrist still aching but her heart feeling lighter. "I think we're going to be okay."

Monica kissed the top of her head. "I know we will be."

As they continued to read and plan, the future felt a little less uncertain and a little more like something they could shape together. Whether through adoption or another path, they knew one thing for sure: their love was strong enough to carry them through whatever came next.