The conference room is past the therapy rooms and the exam tables, past the specialized treatment machines that he is entirely acquainted with. Inside the meeting room, Griffin finds a spot at the conference table, and soon he’s joined by the team doctor, Dr. Young, a physical therapist, someone from sports medicine, and the Wardens’ rehab coordinator, Karileigh, who makes sure every player has all the necessary services to recover expeditiously.
Dr. Young doesn’t say anything that Griffin hasn’t already heard. “The surgeon’s going to do his very best to fix you up as good as possible with what he’s got in there. Plenty of scar tissue makes the job trickier.”
“Yes, sir. I understand,” Griffin says.
“He might need to graft in some new tissue, but in terms of you getting back to top shape, we’d really prefer to focus on preserving as much as we can first.”
“Is there a chance I’ll need a second surgery?”
Dr. Young pulls in a concerted breath, cups his chin, and pauses. “I’m never going to BS you, son. This isn’t the ideal scenario for having a knee injury, and the truth of the matter is that we won’t know how things will or won’t go until we just do the thing.”
“That makes sense.”
Griffin says these words about the practical components, but none of this really makes sense. Not in the sense that he did everything he was supposed to do to keep himself in thebest shape. Not in the sense that he’s worked his whole life for this career. Not in the sense that, somewhere along the line, he let the other parts of himself go, and he let this sport consume him.
He’s grateful when Karileigh clears her throat and begins discussing the logistics of his recovery. Griffin needs to know the details, and he refocuses intently. Karileigh is of small stature and so blonde that her hair is almost white. Her plan is meticulous, and she details it for the group.
“Postsurgery you will be transported directly to Kensington Suites, a luxury rehabilitation facility that will oversee the correct administration of pain medication and wound care, as well as support services such as food, hygiene, and mobility assistance. Your length of stay will be determined by the physician in residence, who will monitor your recovery. As soon as you’re able, physical therapy will begin working with you to regain mobility in the knee and aid the appropriate healing. Please find a packing list in your email inbox. Otherwise the facility is prepared to provide necessary items as requested. We have thought of everything to maximize your potential for the greatest recovery. Only the best for our Wardens players!”
The plan is fabulous, and as promised, it doesn’t miss a thing when it comes to surgery and recovery. Griffin itches with an impulse to get to his feet and run to the practice field to join his teammates. He might not have a choice, but he wishes he could will the whole thing away. Go back to football. The thing that makes him Griffin Hayes.
Hospitals, doctors, and rehab aren’t supposed to be part of his world the way they are right now.
He wasn’t made forthis.
“Thank you for putting together such a comprehensive plan. I will be following all of the orders to make my recovery as speedy as possible.”
“We’d expect nothing less from our golden Warden,” Coach says from the doorway where he’s barged in. “I snuck out for a minute to come check on my favorite tight end.”
Griffin gets to his feet, and the coach pulls him under his arm roughly.
“Don’t tell Lopez that or you might be down another tight end on Sunday.”
Everyone in the meeting room laughs.
“Anything else before I run?” Dr. Young glances at his watch.
“That’s all, I think. Karileigh?” Griffin says, and Karileigh nods in agreement.
“Well, in that case, best of luck tomorrow,” Dr. Young says. “We’re rooting for you.”
“And I’ll be rooting for the Wardens in DC,” Griffin says.
Karileigh slips out of the meeting room with a quick goodbye. Coach follows closely behind as he rushes back to practice after sharing his well-wishes, and Griffin is left alone in the Wardens’ conference room. The walls are lined in memorabilia, framed jerseys of legendary players, posters of past Super Bowl appearances, top season awards. Griffin has never questioned his belonging in this organization. He always knew that between his work ethic and his talent, he could live up to the demands of a team of the Wardens’ stature.
The throbbing in his knee reminds him how much has changed.
Will he ever get back here? If he does, will he become a drain on the team? The old-timer no one wants to let godespite his glory days being in the rearview? There are no guarantees either way. The only thing of which Griffin can be certain is that his recovery will be difficult and long, and he has to take it one step at a time.
The only other option is to quit. And a quitter—injured or not—is one thing he’ll never let himself be.
The ringing phone in his pocket pulls his mind from its musing, and Griffin hits the screen to accept Mike’s call on speaker.
“Hey, man, what’s up?” Griffin says.
“How you holding up?” Mike asks in response.
Griffin appreciates the consideration, but in equal measure, he wishes everyone—himself included—could forget about his injury for more than a few seconds at a time.
