WALKING TO THE STARS
– Miss Harrison, breakfast. – The orderly pushed a cart into the ward. Chloe opened her eyes slightly and reluctantly turned her head toward the door.
– I don’t want any, thank you, – she replied.
– Come now, you need your strength, young lady. – The doctor followed the orderly into the room.
Chloe remained silent. The orderly quickly placed a bowl of porridge and a cup of tea on the bedside table. She whispered:
– Go on, eat. Dr. William is right. – And with that, she hastily left the room.
– How’s your mood? Feeling spring-like? – Dr. William smiled.
– Not quite, – Chloe replied sorrowfully, turning to the window.
– That’s good to hear. – Ignoring her tone, the doctor continued. – The operation is scheduled for tomorrow, – he informed her more formally.
– Will my chances improve? – Chloe turned back to him.
– Undoubtedly. Though complete recovery isn’t a certainty yet, – Dr. William admitted.
– Will I be able to walk? – Chloe tensed up.
– I don’t want to give false hope… – After a pause, Dr. William responded, – But we must seize every opportunity.
– Got it… – Chloe turned away again. She didn’t even notice when Dr. William left the room. Nor did she hear the birds chirping happily outside.
The accident was horrendous. Chloe’s friend Daisy had been driving. Trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle, Daisy swerved sharply, the car spun out on the slippery road, and the impact was unavoidable. The main blow struck the passenger side. Chloe only regained consciousness in the hospital. She later learned that Daisy suffered less, with a broken arm and a concussion. Chloe, on the other hand, had several broken ribs, an open leg fracture, and, most critically, her spine was injured. The prognosis was grim; her chances of walking again seemed almost non-existent. Perhaps someone else would have been grateful just to be alive, but for Chloe, her world collapsed instantly. Dancing meant everything to her: life, income, inspiration. Movement was as essential to her as air is to others. And now, what?
The next blow came from Mark’s reaction. They had been together for two years, and just recently, Mark had proposed to her. Two weeks ago, as he sat with her in the hospital room, Chloe instinctively knew the wedding was off. When she shared the doctors’ prognosis, Mark sat silently, staring at the floor, then said rather uncertainly,
– You should stay positive. Everything will sort itself out.
For the next three days, he didn’t visit. Then she received a short message from him: “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.” The last slender thread of hope snapped. Chloe no longer cried; her empty, glassy eyes stared up at the white ceiling, imagining it crashing down to end it all.
Her mother, gently stroking her hand, tried to comfort her, forced smiles, and repeated that not all was lost, insisting they would fight together. But Chloe saw her mother’s eyes, red from the tears she shed outside the room. Dr. William, her attending physician, also kept insisting on the need to fight.
– Why? – Chloe asked one day.
– To be happy. – He simply replied.
– I’ll never be happy again, – Chloe answered. Dr. William looked at her intently:
– You will be. But it depends more on you than anyone else. I don’t have vast experience, but I’ve met people who’ve overcome seemingly impossible odds, leaving their maladies behind in hospital rooms because they wanted to live, to be joyous, to be happy.
Chloe didn’t respond. She didn’t want to live, not like this. What happiness could there be? She would ask the doctor but chose not to continue the discussion. After all, it’s probably just customary for doctors to encourage their patients.
– Can’t sleep? – Dr. William quietly opened the door, letting a strip of light into the dark room.
– No, – Chloe replied, not noticing that the doctor had shifted to a more personal tone with her.
– Nervous? – He asked, settling on a chair by the window.
– No, – Chloe shrugged.
– Imagine the accident never happened. It’s ten years from now. What would your life be like? – Dr. William mused, looking out the window, not at Chloe.
– I don’t know. Maybe I’d still be performing. Or perhaps I’d be taking a daughter to dance classes, – Chloe smiled slightly before remembering the wedding never happened. – You know, he left me. As soon as he found out, he left.
– Who? – Dr. William already knew the answer. – Do you think he loved you?
– I don’t know, – Chloe shrugged again. – Maybe that kind of love is just in the movies, where they’re willing to go through fire and water. In real life, all they do is promise to pluck a star from the sky for you, but in practice… – Chloe stopped herself. After all, Dr. William was a man, young and quite handsome, she just realized. Probably, he has a wife or a girlfriend and treats her very differently. Surely, he wouldn’t have chickened out in such a situation. He supports even her, a total stranger.
– Well then, Miss Harrison, sleep tight. Stars will be yours, too. – Dr. William left. Chloe looked out the window. A section of the sky sprinkled with stars was indeed visible. “If only a star would fall,” Chloe thought, but the stars remained in place, at least until she finally fell asleep.
– How are you? – Dr. William stood by Chloe’s bed. – Dr. Smith said the operation went well.
– I suppose. But I still can’t feel my legs, – Chloe sighed.
– Look what I brought for you. – Dr. William handed her a small box. Chloe opened it and smiled. It was filled with shimmering tiny star-shaped confetti. – Work hard, and you’ll walk to the real stars yourself, – promised the doctor.
Rehabilitation was long, exhausting, and seemed fruitless to Chloe. William, whom she now simply called by his first name, often visited her. They chatted like old friends, discussing a wide array of topics. William could distract Chloe from her sorrowful thoughts, making her begin to believe that her efforts would not be in vain.
– How was today? – William entered the room after Chloe’s daily exercises, during which a nurse attempted to stimulate her motionless legs.
– Nothing much, – Chloe spread her hands.
– The lilac is in bloom, – William offered Chloe a fluffy sprig he had hidden behind his back. She inhaled the fresh, tickling aroma with childlike excitement, searching for a five-petaled flower.
– Nothing here either, – Chloe pouted, raising her eyes.
– How about here? – William handed her another small box. She smiled, expecting more stars. But when she opened it, she was momentarily stunned. On a delicate ring, a small stone sparkled like a star in the sunlight.
– Will you marry me? – William asked when Chloe looked from the ring to him. Chloe was silent. William exhaled nervously and sat on the bed.
– You sat on my foot… – Chloe whispered. – You sat on my foot! – she shouted and laughed. – You sat on my foot! I feel it! I feel my foot!
William jumped up, laughing too. And then Chloe started crying, smiling through the tears streaming down her cheeks.
– What’s wrong? Does it hurt? – William asked worriedly. Chloe shook her head:
– Remember when I said I’d never be happy? I truly believed it. But today, I’m overwhelmed with joy. And if you weren’t afraid to propose to a cripple, I hope my tears won’t scare you off? – Chloe laughed again.
– Nothing can scare me, – William replied, gazing tenderly at his bride.
***
– Mum, did you see? I did it! – Sophie ran to the bench where Chloe sat.
– Of course, I saw. I recorded it all for your dad. You’re amazing, – Chloe hugged her daughter.
– Ms. Bennett said I’ll be dancing at the center, – Sophie bragged. – Does that mean I’m the best dancer?
– Yes, – Chloe whispered, sharing a secret with her daughter. – But shhh, or you’ll become conceited and miss everything. – Sophie nodded in understanding. – Now, gather your things. We’ll go meet Dad after work.
Ten years had passed. Chloe never returned to dancing on the grand stage, but she danced quite decently at her wedding. As William noted, she certainly danced better than him. Chloe’s journey to the stars had been long, but she and William succeeded together. To always remember this, to never forget about hoping and dreaming regardless of the circumstances, Chloe suggested painting their bedroom ceiling like a starry sky. William agreed. Each morning, as she opened her eyes, Chloe knew she could reach the stars, if only she wished. Any time and always.
