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Aria’s Song-Chapter Three
Chapter Three:
Grieving something you never really got a chance to figure out if you were any good at was strange. I couldn’t have imagined that Wednesday afternoon would be my first and last dance class.
My parents and sister worked hard to make the hospital room as comfortable as possible, but it wasn’t home and even home would have its challenges. My room was on the second floor, and my parents were already planning on giving them the master bedroom on the first floor, but I didn’t want them to have to do that.
When every physical therapy session reminded me of what I’d lost, I was struggling to keep it together. I was alive and grateful, but I was grieving. I was grieving for the loss of my ability to walk, and I was grieving the dance class I only got to take once.
Alyssa did her best to encourage me, she would climb into my bed and search YouTube for wheelchair dance videos.
“Don’t give up on Aria.” My sister would say. You can dance again if you want, it’ll just be a little different.”
How did my sister suddenly sound like she was twenty instead of ten?
“Alyssa, I’m not giving up.” I said softly. “I’m just sad.”
My sister nodded, and looked over at the wheelchair, a reminder of the new reality I was living now.
