Chapter two

Adam's POV

The darkness pressed against me so hard, I couldn't tell if I was breathing or drowning. From a distance, I could hear a continuous beep.

The sound grew louder with each second. Then came the pain. The ache in my muscles. I tried opening my eyes and a silver light cut through.

I winced as I forced my eyes open. I was at the hospital. The memory of the accident hit me fully and I tried to sit up right but the mere attempt caused pain to rip through me.

I cried out.

“Easy.” My mother rushed to my side. Her eyes were blank and she looked older than I remembered.

My throat burned and I swallowed. That was worse. It felt like I had swallowed broken glass.

She rubbed my shoulders softly. “Let me get the doctor.”

Once the door clicked softly, I stared at the ceiling. I tried to move my legs but I couldn't feel them. It seemed like they had been buried in concrete.

My heart quickened. My mother walked back in. “The doctor will be here soon.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“You had an accident on the ice three days ago.” She exhaled. “You were in surgery for twelve hours.”

I opened my mouth to speak but my words failed me. I simply stared at her as a huge lump forced itself into my throat.

The door opened and two men in blue scrubs walked in.

“Hello Adam, I'm Doctor Broome, your orthopaedic surgeon. How do you feel?” One of the men said.

“I can't feel my legs.” I managed to choke out past the massive lump in my throat.

He offered a small smile. “Your operation was successful but we would have to watch you very closely for a couple of weeks.”

“When can I get back on the ice?”

He shared a look with his colleague before looking at me. “Our priority right now is getting you back on your feet?”

“Would I ever be able to play hockey again?” Tears burned my eyes now. My mother sniffed and rubbed my fingers.

“I can't answer that today.”

“Because you don't know?” I shot at him.

“I’d rather not say anything than give you false hope, Mr. Payne.”

The term false hope made my stomach sink. My life had ended. I didn't know anything but hockey. I didn't have a life outside the jersey and off the ice.

My mother escorted them to the door and I could hear them speak in hushed tones. I tried to wiggle my toes. They wouldn't move.

My mother had barely sat down when Derrick Payne walked in. I had not seen my father in almost five years. He had that permanent scowl on his face and he glared at me. Not with pity but with disgust.

“What did the doctor say?” He threw the question to the wind. I looked away and my mother got on her feet.

“The surgery was successful.” Her voice was smaller than it usually was. I had learned to stop questioning it. That's what happens when you're around a man like my father. You shrank.

“When can he get back on the ice?”

“Derrick.” My mother called out.

He heaved and paced around the room. “If he had taken all his lessons seriously, he wouldn't be laying here handicapped.”

“It was an accident.” My mother defended me.

I shut my eyes. I could feel the migraine returning.

Derrick scoffed. “You’ve always pampered the boy. Did you watch the video of this accident? He could barely hold himself together.”

I clenched the sheets and stared hard at the wall to stop the tears from running down my cheeks. I had always known that Derrick was disappointed in me for not winning gold in two years.

“I need to sleep.” I said through clenched teeth. Derrick stared at me and I glared back at him.

He shook his head and walked out of the room. My mother went after him.

Minutes later, the door opened and Coach Pep walked in. His face was a shadow of gloom.

“I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”

I didn't say a word as he sat down on the chair beside me. The beeping sound of the machines filled the room for a minute before he cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry.”

I frowned. “For what?”

He exhaled. “I should have pulled you.”

I scoffed. “You tried. I was stubborn.”

“It’s my job as coach to follow my instincts. I should have insisted.”

“You trusted me.”

A vein in his jaw jumped. “I failed you.”

My shoulders grew tense and I stared at the wall. “How did the games end?”

“It didn't.”

I reached for the remote and turned on the TV. A picture of my face hit me. The headline made me sick to my stomach.

“CAPTAIN’S CAREER THREATENED AFTER HORRIFIC ON-ICE INJURY.”

A video of me sliding across the ice came up next and Pep grabbed the remote and turned it off.

“I don't think you should be watching that.”

I wanted to argue but the look on Pep’s face told me that wasn't a suggestion.

“How soon can I leave here?”

Before Pep could open his mouth to speak, the door creaked open and Dr Broome walked in with another man. He was younger than his previous colleague.

Our eyes met and I squinted, trying to remember where I knew him from. I saw his eyes flash with recognition.

“Dr. Eli, this is the patient you'll be…”

“I’m sorry, Dr Broome,” He touched his shoulders lightly as he backed towards the door. “I can't do this.”

Dr. Broome raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

I and Pep shared a look.

His chest was heaving and he rubbed down sweaty palms on his scrub.

“You would have to find another doctor to handle him.”

“Dr. Eli, is everything okay?”

Pep got on his feet, his brows pulled together in worry.

“You should have died on that ice.” Eli spat and walked out of the room.