Broken Ice {w.b.}

Chapter 24

Jasmine's POV:

"Will I even be able to skate again?!" I demanded, my eyes wide. It was around three in the afternoon. Hilary had to go back to school, since it was Monday, and Will and my mom went to the McDonald's down the street to grab some lunch.

Paul sighed and rubbed his temples. I had been bombarding him with questions ever since I woke up this morning. I knew I was getting on his last nerve, but I had questions. There was a giant possibility I would lose half of my leg.

"Jasmine," he said, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, "I said we would probably have to remove it."

"Probably means it's 99.9% going to happen!" I protested.

"No," he corrected, opening his eyes and dropping his hand, "probably means probably." I face palmed myself and groaned.

"I'm scared," I admitted. "I need answers, now!"

"Okay. You want answers?" I nodded. "Try and follow along. Have you ever seen someone with frostbite?" I shook my head. "When someone has gotten frostbitten, their skin turns black. In normal cases, it's gone in a few days. But for you... From your calf down to your toes, it was exposed to freezing cold water, correct?"

I nodded. "Half of my calf was, but yeah."

He continued, "Jasmine, if things get extreme and more serious, we will have to end up removing your leg." I opened my mouth to say something, but he beat me to it, "And before you ask about your ice skating career, let me finish. If that is the result, we will try to go below your knee, so you still have control over the joints in your leg. That means you can still bend your leg, and spin or jump or flip or whatever it is your do." He chuckled, then got serious again.

"Have you ever seen a prosthetic foot?"

I nodded. "Yeah... Well I've seen a prosthetic arm in Soul Surfer and a prosthetic tail in Dolphin Tale, but I assume it's the same thing."

He nodded. "Yes, something very similar. It will be attached to your knee, and will give you a fake leg so you can still walk. You will still be able to skate, but it will be more difficult." Right at that time, my mom and Will walked into the room.

"Good afternoon, Denise," Paul said to my mom as she handed me a McDonald's bag.

"Good morning, Paul. What are you still doing in here?" She had been working when I called Paul in the first time, but I guess she thought he left after a while.

Paul sighed exhaustedly. "Your daughter has asked questions nonstop since eight o'clock this morning." I smiled sheepishly at my mom, who was giving me a stern look. "But, I explained everything to her and answered all her questions...." He looked over at me and muttered, "Hopefully."

I opened up my bag and pulled out the five hash browns my mom had bought for me. Normally, she wouldn't buy me more than two hash browns, but since I'm in the hospital I guess it's an exception.

"Do you really eat five hash browns?" Will asked in disbelief, staring at the small tower of hash browns I made. I nodded.

"Yeah. It's boring to eat healthy all the time." He nodded.

"I totally understand." I laughed. Paul and my mom walked out of the room, leaving Will and I alone. "So, how are you feeling?"

I shrugged. "Fine, I guess. I can finally move my toes and feel something, so I guess that's good." I ate a bite of my hash brown, then swallowed before speaking again. "Paul told me what was going to happen if I did have to get half of my leg...." I looked down at it and swallowed hard. ".... Removed."