Page 62 of Rise Above

Rise Above

While I was vaguely aware of these things, my mind was really focused on the pain radiating from my left wrist. It was pain I had never felt before. My eyes welled with tears the more I focused on the pain. I was also acutely aware of the silence that had filled the massive arena. All our euphoria from winning had been sucked out of the space. Sharp, intense pain slammed into me; my eyes welling at the ache.

“Get off.” Zeke’s voice was low, deadly. “I will

fucking end you.”

The body was lifted from my back, and I took that

moment to roll over, cradling my injured wrist. I was too afraid to look at it. An injury could end a career, and I wasn’t ready to stop hockey, to stop playing. All kinds of what ifs began to war in my head. Then pain took over, and my stomach roiled at the blinding pain. I gagged, breathing through my nose so I wouldn’t puke.

“TJ.” Chris hovered over me, fear apparent on his

face. “Do you need help getting up?”

I could hear a scuffle next to me. It sounded like

someone being dragged from the ice. My wrist was on fire. “Help.” The word came out soft, terrified. This was a new feeling. What the hell was going on? I wasn’t this guy. Tears dropped down my face.

Chris held a hand out to me. I kept my wrist cradled

against my chest. Movement hurt. To be fair, everything hurt at the moment. “TJ. Come on.” He motioned for Ryan to skate over. “Let us help you.”

Ryan and Chris put their arms under me and pulled

me up. My skates wobbled under me which had never

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happened. I was always completely sure of myself on the ice. Once I was upright, waves of nausea hit me. My stomach rolled, lurching painfully as black spots swam in my vision. “I’m gonna vomit.”

I swayed on my feet as bile rose up in my throat. I

tried to push it down, to get off the ice. I couldn’t. The bile hit my esophagus and then I was back on the ice, vomiting up all the contents of my stomach. The pain was unbearable. My vision turned black, and white spots appeared. Sweat mingled with the tears as my hair fell into my face.

“Talon!” I don’t know how she got on the ice, but

Aife was suddenly near me. “Look at me.” Her voice was soft, gentle. It was the opposite of how I felt right now. Her hands were cold, pressing against my overheated neck and back.

My eyes met hers. “Fuck.” Pain radiated throughout

my wrist. I didn’t have the words to explain the pain, but it felt like my wrist was shattered. A black pit hit my chest, stomach, and throat. Air felt impossible as my throat seemed to close. My eyes raced over her face, pain and shame warring in me.

“Breathe with me.” She gently took my right hand

and laid it on her chest so I could feel her breaths. “In. Hold for five. Out. Good. Again.”

I followed her lead. My breathing was still ragged.

The pain was still there, but my vision was clearer. The black spots had receded. “Fuck.” The word was long and drawn out.

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“Talon, give me your feet.” She helped me sit back.