One Dream - By: zzmbrashear (best ereader for textbooks TXT) 📗

until I got to the Stables. When I got there I slowly walked into Skyler’s area. She was shaky and very jumpy. The rain sounded ten times worse on the roof. He kicked her feet as I unlocked her gate.
“Woah, girl. Sh.” I calmed her as I stroked her back. She quietly neighed as I kissed her softly on her side. I picked up a fleece blanket and covered her up. I grabbed another one and covered myself. She folded her legs and laid down. I waited until she was comfortable then I laid beside her. I laid my head on the top of her upper leg. “I love you.” I said just before I drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up the birds were chirping and Skyler was gone. I was curled up in the hay pile, still covered by the blanket. Half away I stumbled to the fences. I saw my Father working with Skyler.
“Long night?” He asked. I could tell he was a little irritated.
“Yes.” I murmured.
“Hop on.” He said as he calmed her down. He held onto her harness so she wouldn’t run away. He threw me my helmet and I put it on. I fastened it but I wasn’t even awake. My clothes were stiff from being wet and they smelled like hay. I slowly made my way over to her and threw my right leg over. I tightened my grip on the harness because I was still sleepy. “Take her around.” He demanded. I ran her around the fencing twice and then met back up with him. “When you take your corners try not to stay so close in. I know its your safe zone but if you get that close then she may not have enough time to come off it. Also be careful. The bee’s are out like crazy. You know how she gets.”
“Yes, Daddy.” I agreed.
“Do you want to practice your jumping?” He asked. I nodded. He set up the jumps. “Okay, now take her around once and then come back to me.” He said and I nodded. I clicked my tongue and we were off. She hit the jumps perfectly today. She hesitated a little on the first one but she warmed right up after that.
“How’d she do?” I asked as I met back up with him.
“She’s hesitating.” Dad said. I knew he was going to. Dad nit picked at everything. It doesn’t matter if she did everything perfectly except that. He’d point it out anyway.
“I know.” I sighed.
“Don’t give her time to hesitate. Make her hit the jump a second sooner.” He suggested.
“Okay.” I said and then took another round. I made her hit a second sooner. She didn’t hesitate this time but it felt weird to me.
“Perfect.” He smiled. “Take a break.” He said and helped me off from Skyler.
The big race showed up faster than I thought it would. No practice could stop from the twisting and turning my stomach was doing. I was use to before race jitters but I’ve never got them like this. A lot is riding on this win. I can’t afford to mess this up.
“Now, Darling, this could mean a lot to us.” My Mother reminded me.
“I know, Ma.” I replied a little irritated.
“Remember, keep going. Race like there’s no tomorrow and leave it all on the track.” My Father hugged me. He held my hand and helped me onto Skyler.
“Lets do this, Girl.” I murmured as I grasped the reins. I breathed heavy as they walked us into the gate. The horses were louder today. They were kicking and neighing like crazy. I couldn’t even hear myself think but I was trained for this. I have to focus. I slid my googles over my eyes and braced myself for the flag. The dirt burned my nostrils as it raised.
“Go!” The man holding the flag said as he waved it. The gates slammed open and we were off. I’ve never raced against any of the horses here before. They are a lot faster than I thought they were.
I wasn’t first but I was sure passing them like flies. Halfway through the lap I felt Skyler jerk. I looked down at her. She seemed like she was okay but that didn’t fool me. She started to slow down. I looked closely at her hide quarters. There laid a yellow jacket. I can’t freak out. Everything will be okay. I went to swat it but it was already too late. Skyler stood up on her back legs. I held on as tight as I could. She began to start jumping and I couldn’t control her. My grip loosened and I fell flat. My eye sight went black and my body got all tingly.
“Annabelle!” I heard my mother cry. Her voice was high and shaky. I opened my eyes hoping to see something but it was all fuzzy. I felt my Mother lift me into her lap and cradle me.
“Skyler.” I managed to mumble.
“Sh.” My Mother cried. I didn’t remember anything after that. When I woke up I was laying in a hospital bed. I couldn’t move. I began to panic. I tried to move my legs to get up but they wouldn’t move. I couldn’t feel them at all. I touched them but still, nothing was felt.
“Mom,” I cried. I spotted my Mother in the corner of the room. She was asleep in a chair but my voice woke her up. She jumped but then realized I was awake. She immediately ran to my side.
“Sh, darling, I’m here. Mommies here.” She calmed me. She brushed my hair out of my face and graced my cheek. I was panicking.
“I, I, I,” I stuttered. I tried to talk but my mouth wouldn’t let me. “I cant feel my legs.”
“I know.” She cried. Her eyes were filled with tears just like mine. She held my hand and kissed it. How does she know? What isn’t she telling me?
“What happened?” I asked. I looked around at the room that was filled with balloons and giant stuffed horses.
“Sh,” She quieted my sobs. “Get some rest.” Not long after I fell asleep with her holding my hand. When I was sleeping I remembered it all. I was on Skyler. I saw a bee and then I fell. She must have stepped on me or something. I, I just don’t know. What I do know if reliving it was almost like a nightmare. Almost as if I felt it all over again.
I looked at the clock as I came to. I have been sleeping for almost six hours. It didn’t seem like it. I looked around the empty room. No one was in sight. I tried to move my legs again but they wouldn’t. They were still a little tingly. I uncovered myself from the blanket. I lifted up my gown, exposing my sports bra and shorts. On my stomach was a hove print. I flinched as I touched it. I was bandaged everywhere. I came to the conclusion that I must have broken a rib or two because my hole side was black and blue. I looked down at my legs. Nothing seemed to be wrong with them, except a few cuts and bruises, which was normal. I touched them but I didn’t feel me touching them. I poke my legs again, and again, and again until there was a bruise starting to form. My eyes were starting to water up. My Mother and Father walked into the room. They walked up to me when they noticed I was awake. They looked at me. They stared at my legs and the bruise from poking myself.
“Why can’t I feel my legs?” I asked. My voice was shaky and crackly. My Mother rushed to my side. She acted like she wanted to say something but couldn’t.
“Oh, baby.” She cried.
“Why?” I repeated in a louder voice. She kept crying. I looked at my Father. His eyes were soft. He acted like he was in pain just looking at me. He made a fist and put it in his mouth. I cried with my Mom because I didn’t know why but I knew it wasn’t good.
Not long after all the crying the doctor’s came in. Usual only one doctor would see a patient but this time there were five. Two women and three men. They were all carrying clip boards and there faces were gloomy.
“Annabelle Brooks,” One of the men sighed.
“Yes.” I answered still shaky.
“Ms. Brooks, you may have noticed you have no feeling or function in your lower body.” He began. I nodded. All the other people looked down at there shoes. They couldn’t even make eye contact with me. Not even one of them. My eye began to water again, terrified of the next thing thats going to come out of his mouth. “This is began you are paralyzed from the waist down.” My jaw dropped. I looked at my Mother and then at my Father and then back at my Mother. My breathing became unsteady as my heart began to pound faster and faster. Tears fell from my cheeks as I gasped. My Mother and Father put there hands over there mouths to keep them from making any noises. My Mother hugged me and buried her head into my stomach, which hurt but I didn’t say anything. “When you fell you hit your spine just right to damage your nerves. Then it seems that your horse may have stepped on you, which did further damage.”
“But,” I stuttered.
“We are sorry.” He said. I looked at my Mother as she lifted her head.
“Is there any surgery or anything?” I was going to ask more but he didn’t give me the chance.
“No. There’s no easy fix.” He said. “Maybe with therapy and hard work you may be able to walk but,” He didn’t finish.
“Maybe?” I asked still in tears. “Maybe! How could this? How can I? Mom!”
“I know, baby, I know.” She held me tight.
“Will I ever ride again?” I held the tears back long enough to say.
“Its not likely. I’ve never seen anyone do it or anything like it. Not with damages like this.” He sighed. Couldn’t they have lessened the blow? I know it wouldn’t have made any actual difference but it would have given me at least a second to take this in.
“Can’t there be something we can do?” My Father asked.
“Only time can tell.” Another doctor answered. “Please leave.” My Father asked politely. They all exited on his command.
“What am I going to do?” I cried into my Mom’s chest.
“We will get through it.” She promised. How could she know? She doesn’t know what I’m going through. Racing is my life. Its the air I breath. Its the only thing I do. The only thing I want to do. How can I ride without using my legs?
“No! We wont! I can’t ride unless I use my legs! My legs! Why?” I cried into my hands. I hated that I just exploded on them. I just hate it but they don’t understand. “You don’t get it. Racing is my life. Its the only thing I know how to do. What am I going to do if I can’t ride Skyler?”
“I don’t know but we can get through it. We always do.” said my Dad.
While I stayed in the hospital for a while. It got really boring, a lot boring. My Father didn’t see me much. Dad stayed with me for the first few days to make sure I