I stood in Sammy's backyard, trying to explain to my friends not to worry, "Yeah, the doctor said I can't do gym once school starts. But he's going to let me be free for the summer. Though, I have to have a brace on with activities. That's what you saw through my shirt. But ignore crippled, let's play some volleyball!" My friends giggled at the last remark, we found out that Kristen was busy and this was the only day we could meet together, so we got equal teams. Jordyn and Amanda were one team and Sammy and I were the other. Sammy tossed me the ball. I stood in the corner of the makeshift court planning my moves. I tossed the ball into the air taking the few steps I needed to meet the ball. I shuffled, then leaped into the air, smacking the ball, and sending it flying through the air. The ball sailed over the net like a champion clearing an easy oxer and met with Jordyn in the opposite corner of the court. She set the ball to Sammy, who in turn bumped the ball high over the net to Amanda. Amanda spiked the ball down. I dived for the ball, I used my right arm to save the ball, Sammy then spiked it back over the net. Amanda tried to save it but the ball landed just shy of the net. Sammy jumped up cheering that she won that round. I gave her a high five and just started to laugh. It felt good to laugh, a good pure laugh. I ignored whatever pain came from my enlightened moment, rejoicing in the memorable moment. I collected myself and Sammy served over the net. We did a few more rounds before going inside Sammy's house for some lemonade. I sipped from the glass, ice clinking against the cup. The sugary, sour taste was refreshing against my heated body. We headed toward Sammy's room and sat on the floor. Together we talked for a long while.

Sammy's friends were shooed out of the house by eight and we walked out, saying our farewells as we greeted the dying sun. I walked down the street toward my house passing old friends along the way. I walked up to my door when I felt a painful sensation in my back. I walked into the house where my mother greeted me. "Hi honey, how was Sammy's?" I looked at her, "it was, fine." I went to the freezer grabbing ice. "Claire sweetie, are you okay, do you want anything?" I sat down on the couch and my mom settled next to me. "I wanna be able to live. Pain free. It just started to hurt." Mom looked at me with concerned eyes. "I'm taking you back to the doctor."

I stepped into the white walled room and sat in the examination chair. The nurse left me alone, my mom stayed outside. I looked at the posters getting a sick feeling in my stomach as I saw the back and all that could be wrong. I just focused on looking out the window and before long the doctor knocked on the door. He came in and shook my hand firmly. He then asked me to sit up. He gently put pressure on the tip of my spine and made his way down my back. Midway down, pain flashed through me. He stopped inspecting the area of pain. He then tested my feeling in anything below the pain. He then went outside to address my mom.

He came back in a couple minutes later. He came in with a brace. "So, Claire, it seems your back is incredibly tense.  This could be serious and lead to further damage of that muscle. Though, lucky for you, you had gone to physical therapy and your condition is on the positive side. I want you have you wear a different style back brace.  You cannot do gym, but I will allow some sports. Any questions?" I nodded, "Can I be an equestrian?" The doctor thought for a moment, then replied, "depends. Here, I'll go and get the brace, I will be right back." He left the room, I was ready to cry. I didn't even get to consider track. After quite a few minutes of near breakdown, the doctor returned, with the brace. "Now, you need to stay somewhat active. Otherwise, I want you to wear this brace all the time, loosen it at night if you wish." I nodded, the doctor shows me how to use the brace then said something before leaving that struck a cord. "Claire. You're strong. I've often had people never recover from injuries, but, you, are different. I'm going to let you do sports cause I think that's what's going to help you, and you can stay fit, but caution gym. And, before you leave I wanted to share a quote I heard from a patient. 'You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it.' Good luck Claire, if you have questions you can contact me with this." He gave me his card, shook his hand, and left the room leaving me to face a life of gym excuses, or, for a while at least.