Olympic Conquest

Cory - Why Not Me?

"Lainey!" I run to her side and she isn't moving. Her eyes are open but she isn't saying anything. I check her body for blood. Nothing. A bruise is forming across her stomach. Internal bleeding. I think about putting her on the snowmobile and carrying her out of the woods myself. But I don't think I should move her. She could have a spinal cord injury.

I take off my jacket and wrap her tightly in it. I run to the snowmobile, ignoring the shooting pain through my leg. I race back to my parents' home and call out for my dad. He runs out to the garage.

"What's wrong?" he asks. My mom is right behind him.

I'm so panicked I can't speak. He runs out to me. I finally find my words. "It's Lainey. She's hurt. We need a stretcher."

"I'll call 911," my mom runs back to the phone as my dad grabs one of the stretchers from the days when he and mom worked ski patrol. He starts up our other snowmobile and follows me back to where I left Lainey.

We race through the woods together at breakneck speed. We both know this path like the back of our hands. As kids, Dad would drive Ashton and me over every inch of Vail Valley, showing us the mountain's beauty but also the places where it could be dangerous - the steep drops or avalanche-prone areas. Once we were a little older, he bought us our own snowmobiles and we would take off on them for hours. When we weren't on our skis, we could be found riding through the back bowls. 

On the way to Lainey, I can't get the image out of mind of her hitting the tree and the loud crunch of her helmet against the wood. She has to be okay. She still has so much living to do. We still have so much living to do together. I can feel her warm body next to mine and her eyes filled with love and joy at our future together.

I gun the snowmobile willing it to go faster than even possible. Flashbacks of Ashton lying lifeless on the side of the mountain come to mind. His dead eyes staring into my soul. I feel tears washing down my cheeks, freezing against my skin as that similar feeling washes over me.

We finally get to the clearing and I guide my father to Lainey. She hasn't moved since I left her.

"What happened?" my dad shouts as he runs to Lainey's side with the stretcher.

"It's all my fault. She flew off and right into the tree. Tell me she'll be okay!"

He checks her vitals.

"She has a pulse and she's breathing. But she's unconscious. We need to get her on the stretcher and take her back to the house. Hopefully an ambulance will already be there."

We stabilize Lainey's neck and gently place her on the stretcher. We attach it to my dad's snowmobile and he drags her out of the clearing. I ride closely behind, ensuring she's okay on the stretcher. We reach the house where an ambulance is waiting for us. The paramedics rush to her side. They carefully place her on their gurney and in the back of the ambulance. I try to follow them but my knee gives way and I fall. The ambulance speeds away.

My father helps me up. "We'll follow them." I nod okay. We get in the car and ride in silence. My body shakes at the possibility that Lainey may be seriously injured.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" I ask my dad.

My mom looks at my dad whose face is grim.

"We'll know more at the hospital son." I know that tone in my father's voice. It's how he sounded when he told me Ashton had died from the fall on the mountain. I caused Ashton's death and now I may have caused Lainey's. I look out the window and wish it had been me instead of either of them.

My mom turns around in her seat and looks back at me with a sympathetic gaze. "She's going to be okay. Let's have faith." I feel tears forming. I take a deep breath and force them back. I clinch my fists instead.

We pull up to the emergency room as the paramedics race inside with Lainey. My mom and I jump out and try to follow but we're stopped as they hurdle down the hospital hallway with the gurney.

"Are you next of kin?" a nurse interrupts.

"I'm her boyfriend," I say.

"I'm sorry but you can't go any further – only family is allowed."

"Her family is in LA. She shouldn't be alone. I need to make sure she's okay." I attempt to run past the nurse only to be stopped by security and the pain in my knee.

"Sir, we will have to ask you to leave if you don't return to the waiting area."

"How is it better for her to be alone?" I look around at the security guards and nurses and the rest of the emergency room. "Answer me!" The hospital staff looks away as the other patients witness my breakdown.

"She's all alone. Let me see her." Now the tears start flowing, as I think I may never see her alive again. I can't control my frustration any longer. I try to run down the hall, thinking only about Lainey – but my mom stops me this time.

"Cory, I know you want to help Lainey, but we should let the doctors do their job. We're only going to be in the way."

"She shouldn't be alone. What if she-"

The emergency room doors open and my father runs in. "What's going on?"

"Fucking bureaucracy," I say and I storm outside. Dusk has turned to night and I look up at the stars. I ask the universe to let Lainey live. I start making deals with those in control of the world above us. She needs to survive, I say. She has her entire life ahead of her. She should be able to enjoy life and fall in love and have a family if that's what she wants. It's because of me that her life hangs in the balance. I promise I will do everything to protect her as long as she wakes up. I notice the Dog Star is twinkling bright tonight.

It hits me that Lainey's family has no idea she's hurt. I dial the number Lainey gave me for her parents. My father appears outside and announces, "They need to airlift her to Denver."

"Is she okay?" I yell, desperate.

"Hello?" It's her mom. "Hi. This is Cory. I was in the Olympics with your daughter."

"Yes, hi Cory. Is everything okay? Is Lainey with you?"

I try to find the words to tell her about Lainey's condition. I don't know how to say it without completely alarming them. I just let it all out. "I'm calling because there's been an accident. Lainey hit her head. She's unconscious, but they're saying she'll be okay. We're at a hospital in Vail. They want to transfer her to Denver. You should come right away. Let me know what flight you're on. My parents can pick you up and bring you to the hospital. I'm so very sorry. I'll keep you updated."

I hang up before I hear a response. I go back inside and find the nurse with my mother, who has been helping with Lainey's paperwork. "I'd like to go with Lainey. Can I go with her? Please?"

"Yes, you can join her on the flight to Denver. Come with me." My dad hands me my crutches and I follow the nurse, praying Lainey will be okay.