The medical team carefully placed a cervical collar around my neck, stabilizing it.
Asher was holding my hand at that moment, and I didn’twant to let go.
“We need Asher to move so we can load you onto the stretcher,” a paramedic said calmly.
Asher gently patted my hand and leaned closer.
“You’re going to be okay, Big Boy. I’m coming to the hospital as soon as I can.”
I nodded, finally releasing his hand. The paramedics carefully secured me to the stretcher, immobilizing my neck and body as they prepared to transport me.
As they lifted me off the ice, the crowd started cheering—the image of my folks in the stands flashed in my mind. I knew they’d be freaking out.
We reached the ambulance. I was loaded inside, and the siren blared as they placed an oxygen mask over my face. The lights dimmed as I felt the cool rush of oxygen. When I woke up again, I was in the hospital.
Asher
My legs couldn’t carry me fast enough to Theo. The hospital smelled of weird food and antiseptic, and the corridors were painted in a seafoam green color that matched the scrubs worn by the medical staff passing by.
We won the game through sheer grit and determination, but the mood afterwards wasn’t celebratory. Most of us were worried sick about Theo.
Quincy, McKenzie, Hutchison, and several other teammates lagged behind as I sprinted through the halls looking for Theo’s room number.
I finally arrived, and my sweet baby had a brace around his neck. His family surrounded him, which I was grateful for.Guilt had clawed away at me during the last period of the game for not going with him. I was worried sick, but Coach assured me Theo would be okay. It was the longest period of hockey I’d ever played.
“Theo!” I ran to his side. The impulse to throw my arms around him was palpable, but I didn’t want to hurt him. He looked so fragile with his neck brace on. “How are you, baby?”
Theo gave me a thumbs up and said, “It’s a sprained neck. I’m good, baby. Just a little sore.”
“You’re only alittlesore because they gave you pain meds,” Maria interjected. “God, I’ve never been more scared in my life. The way you fell on that ice…” Maria made the sign of the cross over her chest and looked to the sky, mumbling a little prayer.
“Mom, I’m fine.”
The rest of the team shuffled in moments later, each of them asking Theo how he was doing.
“Forget how I’m doing,” Theo blurted out. “We made the finals! I had my sisters keep tabs on everything while they patched me up.”
“You boys played like your lives depended on it,” Reggie added. “Theo had us find a YouTube livestream.”
“He should have been resting,” Maria scolded.
Anthony waved his hand dismissively and said, “Give the boy a break, Maria.”
“How are you feeling?” I asked. “Sprained neck? That sounds bad.”
“Nah, I’m tough. I can play in the finals.”
“I don’t know about that, Theo.” We all looked to the door and saw Coach Wilson standing there with a concerned look on his face. “Theo, you’ve got a sprained neck, and it’s a badone. I just spoke to the doctor, and she thinks you should sit out.”
“No! Come on, Coach! That’s bullshit. I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” Anthony insisted.
Maria approached and spoke with a soothing tone. “Baby, we spoke to the doctor, too. Nobody thinks you should play. It’s too dangerous.”
My heart was breaking watching Theo’s face crumple. “Guys. Please, it’s Madison Square Garden. I might never get another shot like this again.”
The silence was deafening. Nobody knew what to say to that. Watching Theo’s face fall made me want to give him my own neck so he could play. We’d come so damn far and fought for our moment, but I also knew that Theo couldn’t play if a doctor advised against it. Hockey could go jump off a cliff if it meant putting my man in danger.
