Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Levi gradually opened his eyes.

He turned his head on his right side and the first person he saw was his cousin, Elene and then next to her was the doctor and his parents.

He could see the worry that was written all over their faces and he was wondering why they have that kind of look.

He felt his head was in pain. His eyebrows suddenly knitted when he noticed the white ceiling and white walls around him.

The room was painted all over white and his temple was hurting. He was trying to remember what happened and he couldn’t help but wonder where he was.

And he realized that he was in a hospital bed. But what happened? This was the first thing that came inside his mind, but he felt like he had no strength to even open his mouth.

Silence filled the place for a couple of seconds until his mother who was sitting next to his bed spoke.

She saw him already awake. Her eyes showed the worry that she was feeling for him. He was so confused, and he tried to close his eyes again as he tried to recall what happened and why he was lying down in the bed.

His heartbeat so fast as he slowly opened his eyes again. It was as if there were horses racing inside his chest.

“We are glad that you are finally awake,” his mother said, and he could see the tears in both corners of her eyes.

The woman wanted to cry but she was just holding back herself. It seemed that his mother was trying to look strong, but she couldn’t hide from him those emotions in her eyes.

He was getting confused because of the reaction that he was seeing on their faces until he noticed that something was wrapped in his head. It was as if something was wrong with him.

And that made his heart pound even more.

“Mom,” he called his mother. He felt like his throat dried up and he couldn’t tell why he was feeling that way. “Why am I here?” He asked as he couldn’t remember a thing.

He saw his mother and looked at the doctor.

The doctor cleared his throat and then he looked at him. He couldn’t fathom what the doctor wanted to say.

He walked near him. Levi couldn’t understand but suddenly, he felt his heart pounding so fast. The heartrate even doubled because of the look on their faces.

“Mr. Alvarez, it was an unfortunate thing to say that your legs may not work again like you have intended them to be. Your legs got paralysed because of the accident that happened. There was an injury found in your spinal cord that was causing the numbness that you could feel in your body. Here’s the good news though, we can treat this within six months or longer depending on how your body responds to the therapy during your sessions. Depending on your cooperation," the doctor said, looking at him. "Well, I know a great doctor who specializes in this kind of case. I will gladly recommend you to him,” the doctor added, and he could see in his eyes that there was hope with his situation.

But what was that hope for? He just looked at the doctor. He couldn’t believe what he just said when his words finally sank into his mind.

He felt like his whole world had crashed right in front of him. He was just very happy last night and why was it being taken away from him this quick?

Was it just for him to taste it? And then took it away from him like a child who was given a candy?

Frustration was inside his chest.

He wouldn’t be able to walk because of the accident. But what will happen to his career? His graduation day was just a few months away. He was also going to participate in the Olympic games so what would he be doing now? He felt like he was worthless all of a sudden. He had a lot of plans.

Levi suddenly remembered Cameron. He remembered his fiancée whom he had promised forever just yesterday.

What will happen to the promise that he made with her? He told Cameron that he was going to marry her after his graduation day.

His dreams were shattered into pieces.

He felt he was a melting candle and hope had gone away from him. Last night he felt like he was a hero of their country but now he felt like he was a nobody whose dreams were all taken away from him.

Levi felt like his life was stolen from him because of the accident that happened.

“Tell me, you are just joking. Is this a prank, couz?” He said and then turned to Elene. “This is all a joke, right? Please tell me,” he uttered again when his cousin was just staring at him and not talking.

Elene’s eyes were full of pity towards her cousin. She admitted that most of the time, she was pissed off with him but she knew how much Levi wanted to join the Olympics. So, why did this happen to him?

“Tell me, couz, that’s not true right? I can move. I can walk,” he pulled out his blanket and tried to move his legs but reality hit him. He couldn’t feel his legs. Both of them felt numb. He tried to move them but there was no reaction at all.

He couldn’t even feel them.

It was only his mind that was strong but not his body. He couldn’t even lift his legs and that just proved that he was no longer the Levi who bagged the golden medal for the country.

He felt the arms of his mother hugging him and sobbing on his shoulders. He knew that his mother was hurt for him because he was almost so close to his dreams and this had to happen.

He could never understand it. Fate had played on him.