Adam's POV
My jacket, funny, I haven't seen it in years but it still looks exactly the same. Right down to the small ink stain on the sleeve from when I accidentally packed up into Guy, who had a permanent marker in his hand. I wonder if it still fits. I guess I'll try it on later. Or maybe I won't, I promised when I buried that jacket it would be the end . I should stick to it.
That last time I wore it was a week before graduation. We had a huge party at the park where District Five use to play, catered by Goldberg's deli. After the adults left Fulton and Portman went out to score some liquor, they came back with tons. I still to this day don't know where it all came from.
I must have had to much to drink, thought honestly I can't remember having more then a couple of beers. Either way, Averman volunteered to drive me home so I gave him the keys. I didn't know he'd never driven a stick shift before. He stalled it once at a red light and some ass hole came barreling up behind us. Didn't even slow down.
I'd been sitting in the back, because his girlfriend Melissa was in the front with him. The whole back end of the car was pushed in, I got wedged between my seat and the driver's seat. At least that's what I've been told, I really can't remember. I recall screaming for what seemed like hours for someone to get out, before I just fainted from pain.
When I opened my eyes the next time, I was in motionless white room. Averman was in a chair in the corner and Charlie was pacing in the hall. I blinked and Kory smiled, walking to Charlie she touched his shoulder and gestured to me. He then smiled so I figured all right. That was until I tried to sit up.
I couldn't feel my legs, I could see them so I knew they were there but I couldn't move them. At first I thought maybe it was just the pain killers I was on, but when Charlie gulped and Averman's eyes started to glisten I began to panic. Paralyzed from the waist down, that was the diagnosis. I went to graduation in a wheel chair.
I was so angry at the world at that point. Hockey had been the most important thing in my life so long, I didn't know how to live without it. It had always been an outlet for me when I was upset, yet the thing that was the most upsetting was the fact I couldn't play. It was a vicious cycle.
I had planned on putting my Eden Hall acceptance letter in the time capsule, but when the time came I just wanted to get rid of that damn jacket. It was a constant reminder of my life falling apart and my future being taken away. My contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning fell through, no team wanted a nineteen year old that couldn't even walk. So I watched my dreams as they swirled down the drain. I gave up.
Averman felt so guilty he took to drinking. One night his roommate found him concision in his bed room of alcohol poisoning. I knew I was partly to blame, because I was too busy being pissed off at life, to tell him it wasn't his fault. He could've died because I was being stubborn and self centered, that's when I realized I had to fight.
Months of grueling physical therapy found me walking again, I have to tell you walking through the doors at the hospital was the best feeling I ever had. I can even skate now, somewhat anyway . Enough that I've started coaching at Eden Hall, Orion's still there, he offered me a position as his assistant and I jumped at the chance, excuse the pun.
Looking back at all that lettermen jacket presents still cuts deep into my heart. Reminds me of the old days, when playing hockey and going to the NHL was all there was for me. I wish to this day I had lived the life I planned on, harnessed the future that was set ahead of me. It hurts to know, I'll never get to achieve my dreams.
My jacket, funny, I haven't seen it in years but it still looks exactly the same. Right down to the small ink stain on the sleeve from when I accidentally packed up into Guy, who had a permanent marker in his hand. I wonder if it still fits. I guess I'll try it on later. Or maybe I won't, I promised when I buried that jacket it would be the end . I should stick to it.
That last time I wore it was a week before graduation. We had a huge party at the park where District Five use to play, catered by Goldberg's deli. After the adults left Fulton and Portman went out to score some liquor, they came back with tons. I still to this day don't know where it all came from.
I must have had to much to drink, thought honestly I can't remember having more then a couple of beers. Either way, Averman volunteered to drive me home so I gave him the keys. I didn't know he'd never driven a stick shift before. He stalled it once at a red light and some ass hole came barreling up behind us. Didn't even slow down.
I'd been sitting in the back, because his girlfriend Melissa was in the front with him. The whole back end of the car was pushed in, I got wedged between my seat and the driver's seat. At least that's what I've been told, I really can't remember. I recall screaming for what seemed like hours for someone to get out, before I just fainted from pain.
When I opened my eyes the next time, I was in motionless white room. Averman was in a chair in the corner and Charlie was pacing in the hall. I blinked and Kory smiled, walking to Charlie she touched his shoulder and gestured to me. He then smiled so I figured all right. That was until I tried to sit up.
I couldn't feel my legs, I could see them so I knew they were there but I couldn't move them. At first I thought maybe it was just the pain killers I was on, but when Charlie gulped and Averman's eyes started to glisten I began to panic. Paralyzed from the waist down, that was the diagnosis. I went to graduation in a wheel chair.
I was so angry at the world at that point. Hockey had been the most important thing in my life so long, I didn't know how to live without it. It had always been an outlet for me when I was upset, yet the thing that was the most upsetting was the fact I couldn't play. It was a vicious cycle.
I had planned on putting my Eden Hall acceptance letter in the time capsule, but when the time came I just wanted to get rid of that damn jacket. It was a constant reminder of my life falling apart and my future being taken away. My contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning fell through, no team wanted a nineteen year old that couldn't even walk. So I watched my dreams as they swirled down the drain. I gave up.
Averman felt so guilty he took to drinking. One night his roommate found him concision in his bed room of alcohol poisoning. I knew I was partly to blame, because I was too busy being pissed off at life, to tell him it wasn't his fault. He could've died because I was being stubborn and self centered, that's when I realized I had to fight.
Months of grueling physical therapy found me walking again, I have to tell you walking through the doors at the hospital was the best feeling I ever had. I can even skate now, somewhat anyway . Enough that I've started coaching at Eden Hall, Orion's still there, he offered me a position as his assistant and I jumped at the chance, excuse the pun.
Looking back at all that lettermen jacket presents still cuts deep into my heart. Reminds me of the old days, when playing hockey and going to the NHL was all there was for me. I wish to this day I had lived the life I planned on, harnessed the future that was set ahead of me. It hurts to know, I'll never get to achieve my dreams.