On the field, everything felt electric. I watched as Hadassah sprinted like a wildfire, her eyes locked on the goal line, pure determination etched on her face. The crowd cheered, but all I could focus on was her-my fierce little warrior. Then came the moment of impact. She collided with another player, and I swear the sound of the hit echoed across the field. Hadassah hit the ground hard, cradling her arm as she bit her lip to hide any sign of pain.
As Isiah and I rushed over, she shook her head, clearly annoyed. "I'm fine! It's just my arm," she grunted, trying to wave us off.
"Just your arm?" I shot back, my voice laced with disbelief. "Kid, it looks like it's hanging on by a thread!"
Rolling her eyes, she replied, "Whatever, it's not a big deal."
We exchanged concerned glances. Isiah helped her up, but I noticed the way she winced with every movement. Once we got her to the sidelines, the medics were quick to assess her injury.
At Menorah Hospital, Hadassah's tough act began to crack. She barely flinched when they examined her arm, but the moment the nurse mentioned an IV, her expression changed completely.
"Wait-a what?" she snapped, her eyes wide. "Like, with a needle?"
The nurse smiled kindly. "Just a small one, sweetie. It'll help with the pain and keep you comfortable."
Hadassah crossed her good arm over her chest, glaring defiantly. "Yeah, no. I don't need it. My arm's already broken; I don't need you stabbing me with some needle, too."
Isiah knelt beside her, trying to calm her down. "Hads, it's not that bad. You just took a hit from a linebacker! This is nothing compared to that."
"Right?!" she huffed, her arms crossing tighter. "That linebacker didn't stab me, though, did he?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Classic Hadassah, too tough for her own good. But seriously, kid, you're going to have to let them do this."
She turned to me, her eyes fierce. "No needles, got it?"
In a last-ditch effort, the nurse attempted to lighten the mood. She started doing a little dance, shaking her hips like she was trying to distract a stubborn child. "Come on! Just a little poke, and then ice cream is on me!"
Hadassah wasn't having it. She scoffed loudly, glaring at the nurse. "Lady, are you serious right now? A dance isn't gonna make me okay with you poking me!"
But then, the nurse leaned in, pretending to sneak up on Hadassah. "Oh, you think you're tough? How about this!" In a flash, the nurse darted forward, her hands reaching for Hadassah's arm as she attempted to restrain her.
With a quick movement, Hadassah retaliated, snaking her broken arm out of the nurse's grasp with a fierce determination I admired. "Get the hell off me!" she shouted, her voice a mix of defiance and pain. The nurse barely managed to hold on before Hadassah punched her in the arm with her good hand, almost playfully.
"Did you just punch me?" the nurse asked, a mix of surprise and laughter in her voice.
"Yeah, and I'll do it again if you don't get away from me!" Hadassah said, grinning as she held her ground.
Isiah burst into laughter, nearly doubling over. "Oh my God, kid. Did you seriously just punch the nurse?" He shook his head, clearly impressed. "You're something else."
''man," I said, unable to hide my grin. "You're lucky you're adorable, or I'd be worried about your future in nursing."
Finally, the nurse relented, chuckling. "Okay, okay! Ice cream first, I promise! But you need to let me take care of that arm. No more punches, alright?"
Hadassah's eyes softened a bit, and she sighed, still clinging to her stubbornness. "Fine, but I'm still not happy about it."
Once the IV was done, she grudgingly accepted the ice cream reward, leaving the hospital a few days later with a mixture of pride and grumpiness.
As we stepped outside, Hadassah strutted out like she'd just won a championship. The arm in a sling didn't faze her one bit. "You know," she said, looking back at the hospital, "if I ever have to come back here, it's gonna be on my terms. No more needles."
"Glad to see you're taking this all in stride, little warrior," I said, ruffling her hair.
She swatted my hand away, a signature move of hers, but I could see a smile creeping in. "And don't call me little. I'm a badass."
I laughed, knowing full well how much she'd grown, not just physically but in spirit. She might have been scared of that IV, but in every other way, she was a fierce competitor.
