Beyond The Court

3. A Little While

I looked you right in your eye

And asked you why it has to be this way

And to my suprise, you did say

This is just you and I babe

You and I babe

Oh, don't you see it now?

I'm staying for a little while

***

The ride back to her dorm felt like it was dragging on for hours. Paige stared out the window, watching the familiar streets of Storrs, Connecticut, blur together in a mess of colors. The ache in her knee was constant, a dull, throbbing reminder of everything that had changed in the past 24 hours. Her leg, wrapped tightly in a brace, felt heavy and restrictive, a physical manifestation of the weight she felt pressing down on her.

It had been an overwhelming day, filled with doctors, scans, and waiting—so much waiting. But now, the results were in, and they weren't good. A torn ACL. Paige had heard the stories about this injury, seen teammates suffer through it, but she had never been the one dealing with it. Not until now. The shock of it all still hadn't fully worn off. She'd never torn her ACL before, and she wasn't sure she was ready for what was coming next.

Her little brother, Drew, sat next to her in the back seat, his small hand gripping hers. He hadn't let go since they left the hospital, sensing her unease in that quiet, protective way he had. His presence was comforting, but it couldn't dispel the growing knot of fear in her chest.

Her parents sat in the front, their hushed voices filling the car as they exchanged quiet words. They had flown out from Minnesota as soon as they'd heard about the injury, arriving late last night to be with her. Now, they were planning to stay with her in Connecticut until the surgery was over and she was settled. Paige was grateful for their support, but even with them here, she couldn't shake the feeling of isolation. This injury felt like something she had to face alone, even though she knew she wasn't.

When the car finally pulled up in front of her dorm, Paige let out a long breath, her fingers tightening around the crutches that rested beside her. Her dorm felt like a refuge and a prison all at once. The thought of climbing the stairs, of facing her roommate—Jana El Alfy—after the news she had just received made her stomach churn.

"You sure you want to stay here?" her mom asked gently, turning in her seat to look back at her. "We could stay at a hotel, or you could come home to Minnesota for a few days before the surgery."

Paige shook her head, her voice tired but firm. "No, I need to be here. I'll be fine, Mom."

Her mom pursed her lips, clearly not convinced, but she nodded anyway. "Okay, but we're staying here until you're settled. We're not going anywhere."

Her dad smiled at her from the driver's seat, reaching back to give her hand a quick squeeze. "You've got this, Paige. You're strong. Just take it one day at a time."

One day at a time. The words felt hollow in the face of the long months of recovery looming ahead. Paige had always prided herself on her strength and resilience, but this was different. This was bigger than any injury she'd ever dealt with before, and the fear of not coming back as the player she once was gnawed at her insides.

Drew hopped out of the car first, shouldering his backpack like the little trooper he always was. He immediately turned back to help Paige, his eyes filled with the same quiet determination she usually saw in her own reflection. Paige managed a small smile as she accepted his help, pulling herself out of the car and leaning heavily on her crutches. The brace on her knee was a constant reminder that her life, at least for the next year, was going to be very different.