Chapter 21
Kodi
Uuggghh. I feel like I was hit by a truck.
Searching my mind for why I feel this way comes up with only the amazing moments that happened at my game last night. Except, I can’t remember the end of the game. I work through my mind and piece the game together until I’m able to pull the memory of the late hit.
The other team was unreasonably upset about their probability of losing the game and decided to take it out on me for one reason or another.
We’re not rivals, and it wasn’t a detrimental game for their season, so why it happened, I may never know.
But, judging from the pain coursing through my system, I know it’s bad.
Kodi. I love you. Please wake up. Anya’s sniffly voice reaches me and I want to jerk up to find her, but I can’t. My eyes refuse to open and my body feels as though it’s tied down.
Anya, baby, can you hear me? I try through our bond, hoping to reach her.
Oh my god, Kodi! Are you okay? I’ve been so worried. “He’s awake!” I hear her holler at someone. “Yes, I know his eyes are still closed but he’s talking to me through our bond. You think I don’t know what awake means?” she snaps, and if I could, I would laugh out loud at her.
I’m sore as all hell, but I can’t tell more than that since I can’t seem to move or wake up.
I can wiggle my extremities, but they still feel tied down.
Why can’t I move?
The doctors had to reset your spine. They strapped you down while you slept to make sure you didn’t hurt yourself while you were out.
Makes sense. But I don’t like the part where she said they had to reset my spine.
Was it that bad?
Yes. It was awful. I was so scared I’d lost you.
I search my consciousness for my bear. I can feel him snoring. He’s still out, helping me heal from the ordeal.
I’m here, Anirniq. I’m okay. My bear is still sleeping. Did they give me some kind of anesthetic that knocked me out? It’s keeping me from fully waking.
Oh, the doctor is finally here I’ll ask.
I hear as she relays our conversation, and the doctor confirms that’s exactly what they did. I bristle in frustration that I can’t wake up fully to calm my mate, her worry smothering me like a thick, humid fog.
“Have you told him?” the doctor asks Anya. She doesn’t respond verbally, so I don’t know what the doctor is referring to or if she’s agreeing or denying. An uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.
“He needs to try to go back to sleep until his bear is ready to wake. He needs to heal to a stable level so he doesn't push his body too far.” I hate that the doctor is talking to Anya like I’m not even here and can’t hear everything she’s saying.
My mate’s hand takes mine, brushing her thumb across my skin and calming me.
Kodi, the doctor wants you to rest. I’ll rest with you. I won’t go anywhere, she promises on a yawn as she lays her head on the top of my thigh, still holding my hand. I let myself sink back into sleep until my bear is ready to wake.
This time when I wake, my eyes flutter open, the dim light still feeling too bright. My bear is awake and grumbling beneath my skin, pacing and irritated about something.
Looking around, I see that Anya is still sleeping on my thigh, hunched over in a chair beside me.
Guilt slams into me for making her worry, even though I know it was out of my control.
Last night was supposed to be fun. It was supposed to be about her coming around to love football while I got to show the whole world she is mine and how amazing she is.
Testing my limits, I find I’m finally able to lift my hand, the straps since removed once I was no longer a danger to myself. With control of my limbs, I lift my arm and bring it to the top of my mate’s head, gently running my fingers through her gorgeous auburn hair.
She’s facing me. Her face isn’t as restful as it is when she sleeps in my arms. Her brow is furrowed and her mouth is set into a frown.
Using my thumb, I smooth the angry lines between her brows and it’s her turn to slowly open her eyes.
When they land on mine, a sleepy smile breaks across her face.
“You’re really awake this time,” she breathes.
“I am,” I return, the locker room doors swinging open at the same moment.
Our head coach, flanked by Mars and the doctor, walk in slowly and seriously. Anya shrinks at their entrance, and judging by the look on Mars’s face this is not a “good news, you’re awake and all is well” morning meeting.
“How bad is it?” I’m able to ask with gravel in my voice. Anya reaches beside her and produces water, offering me a drink through a straw.
I greedily guzzle the water and when she pulls away, a drop escapes that she catches with her finger, smiling at me with so much love.
Mars looks at the ground while the coach’s lips are set in a thin line. They let the doctor take over which is never a good sign. “You suffered a pretty bad spinal cord contusion.” She begins, and my whole body deflates, knowing what’s coming next.
Humans don’t heal well from those. That’s a serious, career ending injury. We can’t possibly explain away an injury like that. A human would be at constant risk of being paralyzed if they suffered the same injury I did last night.
“We won’t release the decision yet. We’ll play it off that you’re healing and we’re hopeful. But, you unfortunately won’t be able to play anymore.”
Anya’s eyes well with tears and her sadness and worry for me.
While I’m disappointed in how this is ending .
. . there’s a strange feeling in the back of my mind.
All this time playing football. Climbing the ladder.
Everything I’ve sacrificed. And now it’s all for naught.
It’s over. This thing I’ve been chasing for so long, just done.
Gone. Over. I’m numb. The strange feeling is a numbness.
“I’m so sorry, Kodi.” Anya is the first to speak while I process the news. “They told me last night and I should have told you but I didn’t know how.”
Lifting myself into a seated position, I pull her to me. “Baby, that isn’t your responsibility. You were here with me and that’s all I could ask for.”
Taking in the coach and doctor, I ask, “What now?”