Fragile Hearts

9: Paralympics

My aquatics class is my favorite and while I'm warming up with my aide, Mrs. Metcalf calls for everyone's attention.

She stands at the side of the pool and waves some brochures she's holding. She looks directly at me and grins. "I've got the information about this year's Paralympics. Anyone who wants to participate should see me after class. We've got until the end of May to prepare for the tryouts. The event will be held the first week of June in Tucson.

Some of my fellow swimmers give happy nods and another gives a thumbs up sign. My aide asks, "You're going to participate, aren't you? You're a really good swimmer."

I don't meet her eyes, "No. I'm not going to participate."

"Why not?"

"Because I'll just look like what I am, a pathetic cripple."

Sue, my helper, shakes her head and says, "Boy, are you ever wrong. But some things can't be learned by others telling you. I sure hope you come to your senses while signups are open."

I give her a stubborn look and she says, "Let's finish warm-ups."

After swim class, I'm still in a funky mood as I roll down the hallway in Building G toward the dreaded speech class. I pause and reach into my backpack for a bottle of water. As I'm drinking, I see Cindy, Tyce's ex-girlfriend, walking toward me. I've never met her, but Lucy pointed her out to me early on. She's with Tina and her gang. They're all wearing really short skirts that show off their shapely legs. I push my chair as close to the wall as I can. I know they see me. I'm just hoping they'll pretend that I don't exist.

Not.

Cindy stops in front of me. Very sweetly she says, "Hi. Aren't you Morgan?"

I don't want to answer, but I really don't have a choice. "I am."

She says, "I'm glad we finally meet, seeing as how I know Tyce so well..." She snickers and I get her drift, then she says, "I can see why he spends so much time with you. He has a heart for the less fortunate."

I can't believe I just heard what came out of that girl's mouth. She winks at me. "Tell Tyce hello from me and let him know that whenever he's ready for round two, I'm game."

With a flick of her hair, she and her zombie girlfriends walk away. I still can't believe anyone could be that vicious. Her skirt switches back and forth almost revealing her panties. I decide her butt is too big for her legs.

That evening, Tyce knocks on my door and I'm mad at him for once having a girlfriend as mean as Cindy. Are men so blind they can't see past a pretty face and sexy body? I know I'm being unreasonable, but I don't care. I open the door and scowl at him.

He frowns and says, "Close the door and I'll knock again."

I give him a questioning look.

He grins. "You're in one of your moods. Let's just close the door and start over. You can pretend to be ecstatic to see me."

I scowl even more and sneer, "Haw, haw. Aren't you the comedian?"

Ignoring my bad mood, he steps past me and waves a brochure in his hand. My curiosity is peaked. "What's that?"

He hides the paper behind his back. "This, my dear, is the next six months of your life."

"What are you talking about?" I'm not sure I want to hear what he has to say. He holds the brochure out and I see a word that makes me cringe: PARALYMPICS.

"Oh, no. Not you, too. There is no way I'm-"

He interrupts, "Why not? You love swimming; you're great at it-"

"I'm in a fucking wheelchair!" I can see Tyce's surprise at my language, but this day has been too much.

"Honey, that's why it's called Paralympics; it takes that into consideration. You'll be competing against-"

"I can't believe you!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You know how much I hate being noticed. I get the sweats just thinking about speech class. There's no way I can take center stage in a competition. Those events are videoed and all kinds of crap."

"You're being ridiculous."

I can't believe Tyce is being so insensitive and I feel stupid tears welling up. I jerk my wheelchair around. My nose sounds stuffy when I say, "I don't want to talk about it. You just don't understand. Please leave."

I hear my half-size fridge open and twirl my chair around. "Didn't you hear me? I asked you to leave."

He pops the top on a V8. "Would you like one?"

I'm so mad it's making me dizzy.

Tyce almost smiles when he says, "Just let me have my say and then I'll leave."

"Do I have a choice?"

He gives me his heart-stopping grin. "In this instance-no."

I cross my arms over my chest and wait.

Slowly, he reaches and drops the brochure in my lap. I refuse to look at it.

He says, "Sometimes, life is unfair."

I smirk, "Ya think?"

He ignores my remark and continues. "And we're faced with making decisions that will affect the rest of our lives." He kneels in front of me and it reminds me of the first day we met. My heart is tripping all over itself. He keeps talking, "Because you're my friend, I want to help you make the right decisions when I think that you're not." He reaches and caresses my hair.

My heart is hammering.

He says, "You're a beautiful woman." He pauses, studying my face. Then he says, "Kaylee told me about your desire before your accident to participate in the Olympics."

I move my eyes away from his. He trails a finger down my neck to the top of my collarbone. In a voice choking with emotion, he says, "Don't let your dream go. The Paralympics are just as competitive and fulfilling as the Olympics. Don't you understand that life isn't about winning or losing, it's about doing?"

Suddenly, Tyce stands and says, "Just read the brochure and think about it. That's all I ask." Without saying goodbye he leaves and softly closes the door.

For a long time I don't move and then I place my hand over my collarbone where his finger had rested. As much as I've guarded my heart, I know it's too late. I've fallen for Tyce Brandon.

I pick up the brochure and slowly open it.