Post by Andrea Cross on Feb 21, 2022 17:12:44 GMT -5
[ 4 Years Ago ]
Sitting in the little doctor’s office, the smell of her sterile environment still put her on edge rather than improving her state of anxiety. She wasn’t sure if that was just how doctors rolled, or whether it was just an unfortunate side effect.
Her knee didn’t hurt, not the way she expected it to hurt only a few days after that nasty spill. She hadn’t been able to walk right afterwards, taken to the hospital by her uncle because he seemed to know more than Andrea had, but they had not said a word about what it could’ve been.
Miss Cross? My apologies for making you wait, we had to make sure to check the scans. a thirty-something doctor would speak, the man had the cautious yet dry tone of a disconnected doctor who spent their days telling bad news.
Taking a seat opposite to Andrea, he’d nod a little to Uncle Jack who simply put on their best attempt to hide their grim expressions.
So what’s up, when can I lace up my boots again? Andrea smiled without a care in the world, merely focused on tomorrow rather than hearing what she already knew.
She fell all the time; she had fallen in ways ten times worse than this one. She got up every time, and after some ice baths she felt like a new woman ready to take on the world.
The doctor didn’t smile, nor did Uncle Jack. Well, you had a pretty nasty fall from what your uncle explained to me. And not every fall is equal. the doctor coolly explained, opening a folder with scans in it.
Putting them in front of Andy, they told her little, which the doctor undoubtedly knew.
When you fell, your knee buckled, as a result both your ACL and MCL in your right knee were torn quite badly. These two ligaments are very important to the basic functioning of your knee joint, ensuring stability under stress. Because you iced it in time, the swelling and pain is undoubtedly very bearable, but with injuries like these, surgery is a requirement to ensure your ligaments can heal, and stability is regained. he explained, grim yet callously cold.
Andrea still didn’t understand much and kept her smile, albeit her smile became more desperate as she figured that surgery would keep her out.
Right, surgery. How long will I be out, it’s just a couple of months at best, right? Athletes get it all the time, so seems as well that it happened to me. she’d explain, mostly to herself.
The doctor would be silent for a few seconds as he shared a glance with Uncle Jack and back again, he sat straight in his chair and interlaced his fingers.
Athletes are more predisposed to these types injuries, correct. But it’s often one or the other, and rarely to a degree where there’s a near complete separation in both ligaments.
Andrea felt Jack’s hand on her shoulder but would brush it off as her nose scrunched a little.
The chance of success is great, but with an injury as severe as these ones, the chance of a full recovery is very rare, as it stands now, you will be happy to regain full function in your knee, but as your physician I cannot advice you to continue your career. Even if you did, as said the chance of fully recovery is slim, but the chance of re-aggravating the injury is very high, which can lead to significant problems in your future.
Picking up the documents, the doctor would stand up again, ready to depart.
Andrea, you are a young woman, I suggest you focus on your surgery and recovery, rather than looking at ways to put your quality of life and physical wellbeing at even greater risk…
Departing from the room to let the patient come to terms with their situation, Andrea bit her cheek and looked back at Uncle Jack with a grim smile on her face.
I’m sure he’s just being dramatic like doctors are, before you know it I’ll be back in the gym ready to kick more ass. she’d say, talking courage into herself.
Jack was grimmer, taking Andrea’s hand in his and trying to soothe her worries.
Andy, just listen to the doctor and focus on the surgery. Let’s go to your mom and we can talk about your career when we have a better idea. he’d say diplomatically.
But Andrea didn’t want to hear diplomacy as she levelled a fist into his shoulder.
Don’t bullshit me, Jack. You think I should just quit, right?! Fuck that, I promised Dad and I don’t give a shit if my fucking knee will fall apart. she’d say, tears crawling out of her eyes quickly wiped away.
Trying to stand up in anger her right knee would immediately buckle, with only the intervention of Jack preventing her to fall straight to the floor. Rather than let her go, he’d hug her tightly.
I know you did, kid. But we’ll find a different way, he’ll be proud of you as long as he knows you’re safe and healthy… he’d soothe as his jacket soaked up Andrea’s tears.
[ Fade ]
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[ ‘The Pirate Cove’ Wrestling Gym – San Francisco – Present Day ]
Andy, stop dreaming and help me out with this gear. a voice rang out.
Andrea would immediately snap out her idle daydreaming and get herself off the couch that had been erected in the makeshift ‘lounge’ in her uncle’s wrestling gym. Despite the man not having wrestled properly in six years, the wall was still lined with memorabilia and excessive amounts of pirate-themed kitsch.
‘Calico Jack Rackham’ was a man proud of his theme, and the accolades they had received working up and down the west-coast independent scene, and a little bit of Australia from his early career. Her eyes always lingered for a second on the pictures of him with her father, more often than not haggard from taking lumps, or just having celebrated a victory with a night on the town.
Andy…! Jack’s strained voice would ring out once more.
I’m coming Jack, jeez! she called out as she got her ass in gear and quickly caught up with her uncle near the door who was in the process of trying to carry some boxes into the gym.
The delivery man had lingered, having just taken a selfie with his uncle, a rare sight for Andrea because Jack hadn’t exactly been a star in his time in the ring apart from a few months playing his pirate character on television, but he’d never gotten further than taking lots of losses against better talent and bigger names.
Without asking, Andrea would pick up a box and in one nimble move turn on her heels. She noticed Jack’s concerned looks, even after two years he was constantly worried over nothing.
Is that all? It’s merch for your next high school tour, right? she asked, dropping the box near the others that were stacked next to her uncle’s office.
Jack had found steadier employment as a part-time P.E. teacher, but he couldn’t help but try and plug his gym as much as possible.
Hey, I can’t be coasting on one star pupil forever. he’d remark putting the final box down with a cheeky grin. Oscar can’t be the only one carrying this gym to prominence. he’d add, taking the incoming fist onto his shoulder in stride.
Asshole. she’d smile back.
Oscar Herrera was only eighteen and had been in training for only six or so months, and even Andrea could admit they had more natural wrestling talent than she’d ever have. But that didn’t mean she took Jack’s jokes without a little wounded pride.
But whilst Oscar was still dealing with getting through college; Andrea was in Project Underground, and on the cusp of working her way onto one of the two biggest brands in wrestling.
Kidding, of course. You know you’re my number one star, if you keep picking up wins maybe people will realize ‘Calico’ Jack is the trainer they need to become a star. he mused out loud.
And now you’re just trying too hard to make me feel good, Jack. I’ve not made it anywhere yet, and one win against Kurtis Slayne doesn’t prove much if I can’t keep winning matches. Andrea answered as she tried to stay realistic.
Cracking open one of the boxes to check what was in it, she’d quirk an eyebrow at ‘Calico’ themed drink bottles and frisbees. Are you sure you’re not advertising a disc golf brand? she teased as she took one of the bottles for herself.
She was gonna rep her uncle even if others might find the gear tacky.
Your win against Slayne was impressive though, that guy is dangerous and had you scouted, but you still got the win. he complimented.
Andrea could read between the lines though, and he meant that he was surprised her knee hadn’t given out on her when he had tried to rip it out.
And now you got a trainer in Savannah, just don’t forget who got you there. he’d add, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
Andrea would shrug as she ran a hand through her hair.
She’s just my trainer for the show, and she seems cool. She’s experienced and she knows some of the issues we had to work through. I can only get better listening to people who have been there, right? she explained.
Her knee was fine, she wasn’t afraid of that. The brace was just a precaution, really. But Andrea felt comfortable knowing she had a trainer who had been through the same problems and walked out the other side, she felt a genuine kinship with her, even if they had barely worked together yet.
But Andrea could understand the jealousy from Jack, or maybe some guilt for fighting against her so many times when she was injured and everyone told her to give up. She knew Jack felt like he should’ve been more supportive, mom had told her as much and he was terrible at hiding his thoughts.
Tapping on the boxes, she’d smile at Jack. Now I gotta face Gin, though. He seems just as crazy, so maybe you got some tips for me? she’d ask, wanting to make feel like he was involved in her career.
Jack’s smile would quickly grow wider at the opportunity to flex his experience. I mean, that kid’s wild and doesn’t think twice, kind of like you in a sense. he added with a teasing tone. Jokes aside, you need to focus on being the smarter one out there, you can’t fight this wild child with just blind spirit alone. he explained. Don’t play into his fighting style and you can beat him.
Of course, Andrea herself was a rookie, but she had wrestled longer and changed her entire fighting style after her injury, so maybe Jack was onto something.
Just frustrate him, show your technical skills and let him grow impatient. He has energy and spirit to burn, but that won’t help him if you’re there to manipulate his mistakes into an advantage.
Having put some water into the bottle, Andrea would nod intently at his strategy.
That said, you need to actually show restraint, rather than running blindly into action when the bell rings. So maybe that’s a lesson for you to focus on, to think twice for a change… he’d said with a dry ‘gotcha’ smirk.
Andrea would roll her eyes, before planting a weak fist on his shoulder.
Asshole! she’d smile again, this time a little bit more annoyed at being called out.
Nodding to the wisdom though, she felt confident having at least a semblance of a gameplan now.
I’ll let him make his mistakes, and show him what Kiwi Krush is all about.
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