Holding Hope

Chapter 6-Injuries

          Andrew waited outside while Ms. Herrington attended to me. I buried my face in my palms, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill as i lay on the mattress. The room was painted clinical white and had a slight scent of disinfectant which made me nauseous. Gosh! Could things get any worse? As a gymnast, a minor injury on your back, knee or ankle could affect your entire career. Not to mention I had embarrassed my self in front of Andrew. I face palmed.
"Ms. Tates?" Ms. Herrington called and I lifted my head to look at her.
"It looks like there's a stress fracture in your calcaneus and a few ligaments are torn" she said reading from her charts.
"Its nothing too serious but I'd advise to cut back on training for about two weeks and seriously tone down on the kind of stress you put on the foot.
If you don't, I'm afraid this could turn into something serious and you'd probably have to stop gymnastics. For good." I cringed at her last statement and nodded in response.
"In the mean time, I'd prescribe some drugs for you to get from the pharmacy, they will help with the pain and some multivitamins too." She said handing me a prescription.
"Come back tomorrow so I can put your leg in a cast, to help it heal faster. Meanwhile I'll call your parents and let them know. You're free to go." She finished as she closed her charts.
    This was just peachy! I thought as I muttered my thanks and limped out of the room.
Andrew was leaning against the wall with his back hunched, waiting for me. Just great! Now he was going to see me as weak. He raised his head as he heard the door shut and his hazel eyes drowning with sympathy searched my face.
"Hey.." He said softly as his hand tried to reach out for mine. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Drew" I muttered as I walked past him
"Tasha." He said following me
I turned to face him.
"I'm fine Andrew, I really am. Just leave me alone, I need to be alone right now"
"But..."
"No buts Andrew, I'm good and I really need to get some sleep. Thank you. I'll see you around"
He looked hurt and I felt a pang of guilt. I didn't want Andrew to hurt but I just needed to cry my eyes out right now and it wasn't going to be pretty. I touched his arm softly and gave him a sad lopsided smile before turning and limping away on my bandaged ankle.