The girls had won the team finals and were on to their individual events. Maddy was up on bars and Aly cheered like crazy from the stands. Aly was so nervous all she wanted was for Maddy to have a great routine, she started off great all she had left was her dismount. The crowd gasped and went silent her dismount had gone terrible wrong and she had landed straight on her head. She laid on the mat limp and Aly raced down the stairs not caring what anyone thought but Laurie quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back "Aly you can't go down there" she knew it was true but she had to see Maddy she had to know if she was okay. Aly burst out in tears and Laurie held her telling her it was going to be okay. Aly was supposed to be the one being strong telling Laurie it would be okay, but she didn't because she couldn't not without knowing if Maddy would really be okay. Laurie led Aly back to her room as she couldn't watch the rest of the competition.
"Aly shh it's gonna be okay we're gonna go see Maddy as soon as we can"
"No Laurie it's not gonna be okay."
"What do you mean Aly stuff like this happens all the time"
"Did you see her Laurie did you see her lay limp on the ground she couldn't move and Laurie I love her."
"Al's I love her too and I promise you she will get through this"
"No Laurie I mean I really love her I'm in love with her"
"Oh" Laurie said with a shocked expression she knew Aly and Maddy were close just not that close.
"What if I don't get to tell her I love her she needs to know I love her" Aly could barely control herself as tears streamed down her face.
"Aly you will get to tell her I know you will. You two are the strongest people I know and you will get through this"
"Thanks... Laurie" Aly said between sobs.
An hour passed as Laurie held Aly waiting for any news. Aly had fallen asleep exhausted from crying. Laurie shook her come on Aly we can go see her now she's not awake but her mom said you could come she knows how special you are to Maddy and she is to you.
'Had Maddy told her mom?' Aly thought to herself but at this moment she didn't care she was thankful she did because she needed to see Maddy.
They took a taxi to the hospital Maddy was staying at and saw Maddy's family in the waiting room she rushed over. Her mom got up and held Aly both of them crying. "Aly you can go see her we know how important you are to Maddy and they said only two people could see her so we didn't overwhelm her. I went and we left the second spot for you."
"Thank you thank you so much"
"Aly there's something you should know before you walk in there. The doctors don't know if she will wake up, she's hooked up to a breathing machine, but she's in a coma right now and her brain damage is very severe. And Aly if she does wake up they don't know if she will ever walk again"
Aly let a few more tears drop before hugging Maddy's family and walking into her room.
The sight was horrible she saw the same girl that snuggled up against her the night before only this time limp and cold. She sat down in the chair beside her bed and picked up her cold hand.
"Maddy there's something I need to tell you and I've been meaning to tell you this for awhile. You have to wake up so I can tell you knowing that you heard me loud and clear. Maddy I love you, in fact I'm in love with you and I never want to spend a day without you by my side. Every time I look at you my heart beats a little faster and even though I've known you since I was 10 years old you still can somehow make me nervous. I want to hold you tight and never let you go. I need you Maddy I love you."
She leaned over and kissed Maddy's cold white forehead. Aly slept in the chair next to Maddy never letting go of her hand.
A few hours later Maddy's mom popped her head in and told Aly her coaches needed her to go back to the village.
"I can't leave Maddy please let me stay here I don't care if I miss my chance at another medal Maddy means more to me than any medal I've ever received"
"Aly sweetie Maddy would hate herself if she knew that you didn't compete in your last competition. If she does wake up she's going to want you to have gotten a medal and if you stay here she will forever think that you will resent her for making you give up your dream."
"I don't care about my Olympic Dream I care about Maddy"
"Aly you've put your whole life into this don't let your team down and don't let Maddy down she wants this for you just as much as you want it for you."
"Okay but I'm coming back right after my competition" she turns around and squeezes Maddy's hand tight as she kisses her forehead
"Stay strong for me Maddy" she whispers before she leaves.
Maddy's mom smiles at her and hugs her tight before walking her back to where the rest of her team was waiting.
