I can't seem to open my eyes. They're like dead weights. I keep trying but it's not happening. I can tell that everyone is in a frenzy around me. They're panicked so I start to panic. Do they know something I don't? I try moving my arms but they won't go anywhere. I think I'm wiggling my toes but it might be my imagination. I try to speak and form words. But no one hears me. Why can't anyone hear me? I'm right here!
I don't see Cory anywhere. Where is he? Is he okay? I want him to know I'm okay. Can someone tell him that? He must be so worried. I want to shake everyone around me and let them know I'm okay. I can hear what they're saying. I can feel them touching me. My hip still throbs. They need to check on Cory. Tell him how much I love him and that I'm sorry.
I know I shouldn't have raced the snowmobile. But it felt so freeing to go as fast as I could. In that moment, all I wanted to do was control the beastly power beneath me. To feel the wind whip over me and glide across that open field cutting a path through the virgin snow. It was an experience I'd never known before.
I hope everyone knows that it's all my fault. I brought this all upon myself. Everything would have been fine if I hadn't tried to be a hotshot. I'm kicking myself for being so reckless.
A nurse cuts through all the noise and tells me I'm being airlifted to Denver. I try to say something back but the words don't come. I get to fly in a helicopter – how cool! I try to smile but the muscles around my mouth remain stiff. Hopefully I'll be awake for the flight. I've always wanted to fly in a helicopter.
They transfer me from the ER bed to a gurney and they push me to the elevators. Inside the elevator, I hear the floors ding one after the other. It seems to take forever. Ding. Ding. Ding. And finally the the doors open and a gust of wind washes over me. It's cold. We must be on the roof. The gurney moves closer to a the huge roar of an engine and the wind gets even stronger.
"Hi Lainey." I jump inside my skin at the sound of an unfamiliar voice so close to my face. "My name is Brandon. I'm going to be your flight nurse. We're going on a brief flight to Denver. Ron's going to be our pilot today."
"Hi Lainey." I jump again. I really need to calm down. "It's Ron. We'll get you to Denver as quick as we can." He squeezes my hand. I can't reply back to either of them but they act as if everything is okay so I try to relax.
They push me closer to the roar of the helicopter. I hear Ron's voice. He's yelling in order to be heard over the noise.
"It's windy, we need to move quickly so I can take off before the winds get any worse." Winds? Great, I was relaxed before hearing that. I love to fly but turbulence makes me nervous. I know they're just speed bumps in the sky but they still freak me out. It'll be okay. I'm sure Brandon and Ron know what they're doing.
They pull me up inside the helicopter and buckle me in. I try to open my eyes but my lids still won't move. I hear a commotion outside. Maybe it's too windy to take off after all?
"Lainey?" That's Cory's voice. My heart races. He's okay. I can't move my head or open my eyes to see him. But I soon feel his hand in mine. I already know the shape of his palm and the length of his fingers. I try to squeeze his hand but my fingers won't do what they're supposed to do. I feel tears forming out of frustration - at least something is working. I'll take that as a good sign. Cory whispers how much he loves me and I feel his tears on my face. He wipes away the mix of our tears on my cheek. I desperately want to reach up and take him in my arms and tell him everything's going to be okay. And that it's all my fault.
"I'll be fine Cory. No need to cry." I say to myself, since I can't seem to speak on my own right now.
Brandon tells Cory to take a seat and buckle in. Cory kisses me on the forehead. I feel his wet cheek next to my skin. I try in vain to kiss his cheek that rests next to my lips. He stands and takes a seat. But he never lets go of my hand.
The next thing I know, we're flying. It's the most magical feeling in the world. To be flying amongst the clouds– like when I'm midair on a triple axel. So carefree.
YOU ARE READING
Olympic Conquest
Romance"You already are the person I want you to be. I see so much more in you that you won't allow yourself to see." Lainey is on her way to her first and probably only Olympics. At twenty-two, she has finally made the U.S. Figure Skating Team after yea...
