The Battle

Chapter 4

Finley has finally left my room after a few hours of non-stop rambling. As I give my ears a rest from listening, I think back to what she told me. She practically gave me her whole life story.

I learned that Finley and I go to the same high school. She likes to read manga, watch The Vampire Diaries, listen to music, and daydream about becoming a writer when she is older. She has no favourite colour because it depends on her mood. When she was talking to me, her favourite colour was orange.

Finley also has a spinal cord injury that can leave her permanently disabled.

“This is the last chance I have at walking again. The doctors are going to perform one last surgery in three days and hope for the best results. If the results don’t turn out well,” I remember Finley hesitating to finish her sentence, “The wheelchair is going to be my new best friend then.” She laughed sadly. A few minutes passed with silence. If I was awake, I would have comforted her, given her hope that everything was going to be fine and turn out well.

But was everything really going to be fine? Who was I to judge when I myself am at a very emotionally depressed state of mind right now? Did anyone give me hope and comfort when Mom passed away? No. No one cared about me at Mom’s funeral.

There was no use in trying to comfort her, even if I wanted to. Being disabled at such a young age is the worst thing to ever happen to anyone’s life. No matter how hard someone would try to help, patients like Finley would always shut them out.   

“But you know what?” I heard Finley whisper. “Being in a wheelchair isn’t really a bad thing.”

What? She must be insane, I thought. What could be worse than being disabled?

Finley continued, “I was scared when the doctors first told me about the possibility of never walking again. I thought my life would end if I couldn’t walk. I would have felt useless to my family, a burden for them to carry for the rest of their lives.

 “I know I would be stuck to the wheelchair, and that might not be so great. But I would rather choose to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life than to die because of my injury. How would my family feel if I left them? Life is just too precious to waste, especially when you are given a second chance. This surgery might be my only hope and I won’t let it just pass by me.” Finley exhaled a long sigh. Her voice was bright again, masking the solemnness and melancholy in her voice only moments before, when she spoke, “Well, Olivia. I guess I should be going now. Kelvin must be freaking out by now and I don’t want to give the old man a heart attack. See you tomorrow!”

I guess I would have the surgery if I was her. At least she has a family who cares about her, but she’s too lucky to realize having a family can also be one of your only hopes too.