JENNIE
I was pretty positive I hadn't imagined the words coming out of the wonderful doctor's mouth, but I needed to be sure.
"So… I'm cleared to skate again?" I asked her. Because I had to be sure. I needed to be sure.
The doctor nodded, smiling, looking at me like she understood how much was hanging in the balance and how much her words would mean to me. "You're as healed as you can be."
Excitement, relief, and nerves all barreled through me. But I had to ask. Just one more time. "For sure?"
The doctor's smile grew wider as her eyes slipped to the side briefly before saying, "Yes."
A hand landed my shoulder, rough, giving it a shake I could feel to my teeth, and I couldn't help but beaming up at Lisa. She already had her other hand at my side, and I smacked my palm against hers, linking my fingers through her and giving her a shake. Her head moved forward, her chin landing on my shoulder, cheek to cheek. Her chest to part of my back.
"We've got this, Meatball," she said, hugging me, telling me with her body that we were going to be able to do Skate North America, the next competition we—she—had been invited to.
We were going to be able to do it.
We were going to get another chance.