It has been twelve inconceivable months. It started with a deep breath she took, jumping into the water, with adrenaline accelerating through her veins, she heard the cheers of the crowd, and in seconds she was emerging from the water. It was her glorious time to shine, the result of limitless hours of training. She was participating in the Olympics for the first time in her life. That was an experience she was not going to forget.
She had been a swimmer all nineteen years of her lifetime. She knew that being watched by the many millions of viewers is not like being watched and cheered on by her parents, alongside her two best friends and tens of other families. However, Sira was not the girl to show her anxiety. She always had her head held up high, with a broad smile never leaving her calm face. That is why, walking away from the Olympic Games, she walked with no less than pride. The achievement of being a part of it, meeting role models and history-makers, and delivering a fine performance that exceeded her own expectations. Even though the space for that medal on her wall was going to be empty, she considered not nailing the honor the motive that will be pushing her through the next four years. The next Games was where her eyes were set.
She had never believed that life was determined by chances. Life to her was rather the result of a person’s choices and convictions. An unexpected incident coming her way was going to change her beliefs. She was about to learn that no one can control fate.
She had just landed back to her hometown. Philadelphia could not have been warmer in late August. The city was full of life in the middle of the night. She looked around, inhaling, she caught glimpses of the city lights in the distance. A smile was drawn on her face as she got into her friend’s car. The nineteen-year-old athlete had never felt happier to be home. This was the end of a chapter in her life and the beginning of another; her first Olympics competition was now behind her.
They drove, cutting the darkness with the weak lights of their car, through the hills, up and down, the lonely vehicle was going nowhere; they were playing music on the old radio while their stories were told between happiness and satisfaccion. It was a country road, where the deer are going away from the crowded forest to look for water at the side of the ways. The mysterious scenery started to terrify them, but the companionship was the reason for taking away the fear. There were not traffic signs along the road, just few of them were covered by strong weeds, abandoned and almost invisible. The enormous trees extended their branches over the narrow road, it was a tunnel made by the nature’s design.
They couldn't see the train interception in front of them, and its racket couldn’t be heard because the loud music was the impediment for listening any strange noise. It was extremely late, when they saw the first cabin poking out from the forest, so after pushing the break down, the car was beaten by another mysterious car behind which pushed their car against the train and it went to a deep canal for which the farmers brought water to their crops. Nobody knew about them, just an awoken passenger saw the event, but the train didn’t stop.
At the next town, the passenger who had seen the crash, ran rapidly to the public phone and reported the event to the police department, he was not able to give an exact location, but the officials started their labor immediately. It was not difficult to find them, so they noticed that the women had taken a forbidden road in which only farmers’s cars were allow to drive. After 25 minutes, they found the car, broken against a thick tree, while the unconscious ladies were found soaked in blood. Then, the police department took them to and local hospital where they remained without sense during two days.
Finally at the cold night of her second day at the hospital, Sira woke up while a nurse was changing a needle attached to her beaten hand. Her family was there waiting. She was not able to remember much from that night. Blurred images was all that her brain could recall from the scene; her friend’s screech, loud noises and blinding lights. She felt nothing but pain.
Her first thought after waking up was that the room she was in wasn’t familiar. Her legs felt numb and her head was heavy. Soon after, she learned that a rushing car driven by an intoxicated grizzled man had smashed into her friend’s car and had caused an apparently irreparable lesion in her ankle. That she had had surgery and that she would need rehabilitation to walk properly again. Hearing this words made her feel a deep pain, and she started to become indifferent to her surroundings for the next weeks. She couldn’t grasp the idea nor process the fact that she wouldn’t be able to swim again, so the only thing the girl could manage to do was to act a routine that would follow the next two months of rehabilitation.
Up until now she does not hold a lot of memories from this part of her life. It happened like a dull blur. Rehabilitation is the most difficult part, emotionally and physically. Her life became so different that she felt dead inside. She was depressed, her hopes of becoming a successful swimmer had died. Despite always having faith in herself, she no longer felt the same.
Sira became a completely different person. Much more quiet and passive. Hidden anger rested in her heart, however. She lost touch with all of her friends except for Kate, her friend from the car accident. They developed a closer relationship after going through such a hard time together. Kate, hadn’t been severely injured, but she was there throughout all the process with Sira: even after the swimmer got out of the hospital they still spent everyday together. In fact, kate was the one who told Sira to go to a group support meeting.
The mayor of Philadelphia invites all the olympic swimmers to a dinner party in his house. Sira is invited. She didn't want to go at first, but after some time she realizes that maybe she will meet some of her old friends there, so she decides to join it. She wears a red skirt with silver glistening heels. When she arrives at the dinner she doesn't find any of her friends. There she becomes sad and wants to go back. As she turns to get out of the main hall the Governor John notices her standing alone. He goes towards her and talks to her for a while.
-“Hi, Sira! Welcome to my place! How are you doing?”
-“ Thank you for the invitation. I am doing well. What about you?”
- “ Look at me. How happy I am to see you all together here. You look a bit depressed though.”
-“ No, not at all. I am fine, just a little bit tired. ”
-“ Let me introduce you to some people here. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome all , hope you are doing well. This is Sira with me, one of the best swimmer we have ever had. She has represented our country at various games and has won numerous times. She holds the best swimmer record for the year 2000-2001. ”
An old man in the crowd hails her as “ I used to watch her while she was doing great in the Olympics 2000. She was so fast. I was amazed to see her.” And then everyone starts clapping and praising her on all her achievements. This takes about five minutes and then the waiters take over. Marshall, the chief organizer, appears and serves the dinner. Everyone rushes towards the food area, picks up the food and a group of two or three goes to a side to eat as well as gossip about their past.
-“Hey, the chicken is tasty, get it!” “You should get some from the salads, too. They look nice!” Listening to different voices, Sira goes and takes some fried chicken along with some curry and rice. She goes in to the right corner of the hall. She is alone, sad but pretending to look normal. Joseph, a middle aged person notices Sira, goes towards her and says:
-“Hey, Sira! Why are you standing alone here. Can I join you for a while. “
-“Yeah, sure. Could you introduce yourself?”
-“I am Joseph. I work at the local gym as an instructor. I used to read about you in the beginning of the year but then you disappeared from the game. Is everything alright?
-“Oh, thanks! I got hurt in an accident and after that my injury always comes in between my game. So literally speaking I cannot focus on my game now.
-“Oh, so sorry to hear that, but you should not quit your game, you should fight against your obstacles. Nothing is impossible. Even the word “Impossible” says “ I'm possible”.
-“It’s really hard to come back. I tried but it’s really hard.”
-“Well, Sira you should start swimming again and if you need any help I am always there. In fact you can come to the local gym and I can help you. That will be very helpful for you. When you get your fitness exercise then you can come back to compete.”
-“ Sure , thanks for the offer. I will think about it. How is your family?”
-“Oh, please don't ask about my family.”
-“Why , what is wrong?”
-“ I have one daughter, but, unfortunately, she isn’t living with me. I miss her so much.”
-“ You must have terrible memories if it’s so difficult to say.”
-“Yes, it is,”
Then Joseph pauses for a second and then starts recalling.
- “Several years ago, I was a swimmer, too. In one match, I met my present wife. She was an interviewer and the most beautiful girl I knew. Later, we fell in love with each other and had a smart baby soon, Amy. That was the most delightful time in my life. I had a perfect family and I was young and strong so I was always getting excellent scores in the competitions. However, once I attended a champion and just a few minutes before the finals, she called my coach and said my daughter was terrible sick and needed me back home as soon as possible.”
Joseph continues with a shocked voice.
-“But my coach hid this message to me, he did not say anything and always kept his smile in order to make me focus on the finals. After I finished the award ceremony, he told me the news. I just gave him a heavy stroke and drove home with my fast speed. Unfortunately, the house was empty but a piece of paper was left.
Since you don’t care about this family, we don’t need to live together any longer.
Don’t look for us.
I felt my heart fall into pieces in that moment. I have tried to find them in so many ways including this party tonight. Because my wife also attended the 2000 Olympic, for interviewing, and she hoped our daughter would be a famous female swimmer, also. So I thought they would come tonight. In the other side, if they did not come, maybe I can come across other persons who know their situation. That’s also the reason of I talk with you.”
Sira says,
-“what is your wife’s name?”
-“Jen Beth.”
-“Jen Beth?”
Sira glance at Joseph with a big eyes open and continue
-“Do you know where they are?” Joseph obviously more excited than Sira.
-“No, I don’t know. Sorry, but I knew her. She interviewed me at 2000.” Sira explains, “ however, we have already lost connecting for a long time. I once confused why she left without any words. Here is the reason! Your experience is so unfortunate, but it is not your fault, there is just a little misunderstanding between you two. Maybe I can help you to search for them and urge your wife forgive you. I hope you all can get together as soon as possible. Actually, I think it is also the thought of your wife and you daughter.”
After the party, Sira rethink that story again and again, she sympathy Joseph and also reflect herself. Since Joseph could search his family for such a long time and never gave up, how about her? “Do I have any reasons to give up my positive life values?”she think, “Although my swimming career has already gone, why don’t I start a fighting life again?” At that night, Sira determines to search for Joseph’ family, Jean and Amy. Not only for helping Joseph, but Sira also wants to test herself whether can she find the past Sira, a successful Sira.
Searching for persons is a easy and hard work, what you need is just to ask others one by one, but the whole process may last many years. Three years flight away, in that time, Sira greeted Jen’s initial company and her coworkers, her neighbor and relatives, even Sira’s team members.
Finally, Sira find Jen and her daughter at Sydney, the location of 2000 Olympic. When Sira sees Jen, that beautiful lady is watching her daughter swimming.
-“Hi, Jen! How are you?” Sira asked.
Jen answers with a smile,
-“Good! Thanks! How do you know my name? You ...... You are Sira! Do you know I admire you so much! My daughter too! I always show her you matches from 2000, she will so happy to see you! ”
-“So you brought your daughter to Sydney?”
-“Of course! However how do you know that and my name?” Jen is a little surprised.
-“Yeah, how do I know......” Then Sira tells Jen the story of Joseph, Jen become more and more excited and can not wait to ask where Joseph is.
Three day later, there are two ladies and a cute girl who walk out of the airport. Joseph has already waited there with an excited face. After enthusiastic hugs with his family members, Joseph turns to Sira and says,
-“Thank you so much, Sira! I really don’t know how to express my appreciation! ”
-“No problem,” Sira answers, “in fact, what I did also helped me. Then as your reward could you help me to practise swimming? I remember that you have a gym?”
No comments:
Post a Comment