First off, I want to say a big,BIG thank you to all of you who have read and supported TRO so far.

TRO is now at 100+ reads, and I'm so happy and grateful 🥺🥺💗💗💗.

Extra special shout-out to Iyanuoluwa-Temi for this beautiful cover❤💗💗💗.

I'll show y'all the others in consequent chapters.

And without further ado, let the chapter begin 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽.

"Hello, stranger.
It's been a minute,
since we last kicked it."
-Miguel( Come through and chill)

Jimi

"Took you long enough," I said.

Beryl smiled and clapped her hands.

"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! 'Kay, give me clues on how we know each other."

"Nine years ago, at Star Dance Academy. We were dance partners-"

"- Oh my freaking gosh! Caspian? Caspian Akinwade! Jimi!"

I nodded and she squealed happily.

"Geez!" she continued. " You're so....you're...."

The slightest blush colored her cheeks.

"In a wheelchair?" I completed.

"Well, no, but yeah, how did that happen?"

I sighed and scratched my neck.

"Are you uncomfortable talking about it?"

"Nah, I'm okay," I said, adjusting my chair to face her better. " It happened about a year ago. I was doing this challenge for TikTok-"

"-What challenge?"

"You know, that one where you dance on the road when there are no cars passing."

The color drained from Beryl's face."Go on."

"It was a Saturday and I was to do the challenge while a friend of mine recorded me. We started when the road was completely empty, but because of the music that was blasting, I didn't hear a small truck approach. My friend saw it and tried to get me out of the way, but it was too late and the truck hit me. Next thing I know, I woke up three weeks later and couldn't move my legs. So, yeah, I'm in this thing for the dumbest reason possible."

I clenched my jaw as I finished the story.

It really annoys me.

Beryl's face was pale and she was chewing on her lower lip.

"What?" I asked her.

"Who? Me? Oh, nothing. Just that I kinda came up with that whole dancing on the road thing on TikTok. Meaning that I put you in that wheelchair."

I chuckled slightly and patted her shoulder.

She's still such a drama queen.

"It's not your fault. I was careless and I'm facing the consequences, that's all."

"Will you be able to walk again? Like, ever?"

"Yeah, I'm doing physiotherapy six times a week,and my legs are getting stronger."

The slight sadness left her eyes."So you can still walk?"

I nodded. "My doctor says if I'm serious with my physio, I'll be out of thing by November."

"That's awesome!" she clapped her hands again.

Cute.

"Are you going for physio today?"

"Yup."

"Alone?"

"Yeah, my driver drops me off and takes me home afterwards."

"Can I come?"

"Why would you want to do that?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Because I want to," she said, like it was the most basic thing ever.

"That's not an answer."

"Well, you're going all alone, we have nine years to catch up on, aaaand I just want to," she explained with a shrug.

I thought about it for a bit.

Her presence won't hurt.

In fact, I need her positive energy.

"Okay, you can come."

"Yay! I can even drive you, you know."

"Drive me?"

She nodded, then laughed. "I stole my keys and drove to school by myself today."

This girl...she hasn't changed a bit.

"Why?"

"Felt very rebellious. So, am I driving you?"

"I guess that's okay, lemme tell my driver."

I sent him a quick text as our class mates started returning for the extension classes.

Beryl gave me a smile before she moved back to her seat.

.......

"I just want to talk to my friends for a bit, then we go, 'kay?"

"Okay," I said, and she dashed out, coming back seconds later.

I'd wheeled myself to the door, my bag on my knees.

"Let's go!" she said excitedly.

She pushed me to the elevators and into one.

"Um, Beryl?" I asked as we moved down.

"Yasss?"

"You'll have to help me into your car. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course I don't mind, silly. You were my best friend and dance partner for four years, why would I mind?"

"Well, when you put like that.."

We got to her car, a sleek, light blue Bugatti.

I whistled. "Nice ride."

"Thank you," she said, pushing me to the front passenger seat.

She opened the door and helped me up to my feet.

I quickly slid into the seat before the pain from my legs would hit.

Beryl put my wheel chair in the back, then sat in the driver's seat and I gave her directions to the hospital.

She began driving.

"By the way, Jimi, why did you leave the dance academy?"

"My dad didn't want me to place dance as first priority."

"But you were so good....even better than me!"

I laughed and she gave me a look.

"I'm serious!"

"How can I be better than you? You're one of the best in the country and you're legit famous."

She snorted."The fame part is all connections; I wouldn't be shit without my parents. And as for being among Naija's best, it's just because I've been discovered. I can bet that there are thousands of undiscovered dancers who are waayyy better than me."

"I guess so," I said.

"I can be pretty wise when I wanna be," she said and we both laughed.

The drive was quiet till we got to a red light.

"So, how's your doctor like? Is it a he or a she?"

"He."

"Is he nice? Or one of those doctors that gives kids nightmares?"

"Just so you know, he doesn't give me nightmares."

"So.....nice, then?"

"Yeah, he's nice. Very demanding, though."

"Good thing I get to meet him myself, 'cos we're here!"

She turned into the hospital parking lot and found a suitable spot.

Soon, she was wheeling me into the reception.

"Evening, Nurse Aku," I greeted the nurse at the desk.

"Welcome, Olajimi. Who's this with you?"

"I'm his friend, Oge," Beryl said. "Will the doctor mind if I follow Jimi?"

"Of course not. Just take him over to the physiotherapy wing."

"Thanks," Beryl beamed at her, then tapped my shoulder. "Where's the physiotherapy wing?"

I pointed the directions and she began pushing me.

"Why did you use your middle name?" I asked.

When we were still at Star Dance Academy, to everyone and even ourselves, we were Beryl and Caspian. But we'd sometimes joke around and call ourselves Oge and Jimi.

I really started going by my traditional first name when I left the academy.

"It's what I use when people don't immediately recognize me," she said with a shrug.

I nodded.

Celeb life.

Once in the physiotherapy wing, Beryl was able to locate the training area, which was like a large gym with specialised equipment.

All sorts of patients were there, working with their doctors.

From the 70-something year-old lady who was trying to move with the aid of a walker, to the little boy who was working on his gradually healing arms.

Doctors were also showing a few people exercises and movements to get rid of this and prevent that.

I wheeled myself over to my own physiotherapist, while Beryl sat down.

"Um...Dr. John, I brought a friend, can she stay and watch?" I asked after I'd greeted and he'd begin to check his clipboard.

"Sure, as long as she doesn't distract you."

I turned to Beryl and mouthed, no distractions.

She nodded and gave me a thumbs-up.

"All right, let's start today with the treadmill."

I sighed.

Treadmilling for some people is hard, but trust me, it's a lot harder with healing legs.

The fact that it makes them stronger keeps me going though.

Dr. John helped me up on my feet and onto one of the treadmills.

The pain spread through my legs and I gripped the machine's handlebars.

He waited for me as I took deep breaths.

Once my legs had gotten re-accustomed to my body weight, I felt less pain and released my grip a little.

"Remember, tell me to stop if it gets too hard," Dr. John said, starting the machine.

At intervals, he'd increase the speed, pushing me harder and harder.

I signalled him when I reached my limit and he reduced the speed till it was at 0, before turning the treadmill off.

I rested on the handlebars, my chest heaving with pants as he wrote something on his clipboard.

"You hit your best speed today;  24km/h. That's an average track runner's speed."

Wow....I'm getting good at this shit.

He let me rest for a bit, before putting me through some exercises and making me use some other equipment.

My legs felt like jelly by the time I sat back down on my wheelchair.

"Next week, we're getting you your crutches," Dr. John said. "Your progress has been incredible."

"Thanks," I said, taking a sip from my bottle water.

"Alright, see ya," he said with a smile, walking towards his office.

I turned and wheeled myself toward Beryl.

"Was that physio or military training?" she asked.

I laughed and sipped more water."Let's go, abeg."

.......

"Isn't it weird that after 9 years we clicked so easily?" Beryl asked as she drove me home.

"Yes and no," I replied.

"I still remember when you couldn't go up on stage without my help," she teased.

"Every one has stage fright back then."

"Not me."

Beryl was practically born to perform. It was impossible not to see it.

She literally oozes star power in everything she does.

"Remember that time I did the splits and tore my shorts?" I asked, the memory suddenly popping up in my head.

"Yes, yes! Oh my gosh, that was the funniest thing ever!" she said, laughing.

"But now look at you, you're so strong. I'd never be able to do all those things with a broken leg," she added.

"A healing leg," I corrected. "And I'm not that strong."

"Nah, you're strong."

"And you have great wheelchair etiquette. Where'd you learn it from?"

She smiled. "I was sick this one time and got admitted in the hospital. I helped out the nurses in the paediatric ward as I got better. I mostly the kids using wheelchair and crutches and stuff like that."

I stared at her. "That's so cool, Beryl."

"If I wasn't a dancer, I'd for sure be a nurse or something like that. I'm not smart enough to be a doctor and nurses are nice," she said, sighing."My mama no go allow me, sha."

"She won't?"

"Hell to the no! It's dance, dance and only dance for me."

I bit my lip in thought.

That kinda life didn't sound so bad.

What am I saying?

It sounds awesome!

Doing something you love, getting paid and receiving praise and admiration from loving fans...

If that isn't the dream life, I don't know what is.

But Beryl sounded.....sad?

"It's not that I don't love dance," she said , as if she could read my thoughts." It's just.....ooh, we're here!"

She stopped in front of the gate of my house.

Before I knew it,she'd gotten out and helped me out too.

I rang the bell and the gateman opened up.

"Bye, Jimi, see ya tomorrow!" Beryl said, waving.

I waved back as she sped off, then wheeled myself all the way to the door.

"Who brought you back?" my brother, Rotimi, asked once I was inside.

"And old friend," I said.

An old friend I really need to reconnect with.

☺☺☺☺☺.

My aunt is a physiotherapist, so this was low-key for her💗💗💗.

Do y'all like Jimi?

Please o, for those on TikTok, let's be guided😹😹.

Also, have you ever met a close friend years later and it was cool?

Fill me iinnnn!

I might double update today, who knows?🙃🙃🙃.

Once again, many thanks and much love💗💗💗💗.