Song for the start of the chapter!

Darla H

"Come on, El, push it!" Alex cheered me on. I nodded as I ran on the treadmill. I looked at my speed and time. I had been running for 5 minutes already. The time was already my personal best and I still felt like I could go longer.

I took deep breaths. I pushed myself with every step. I felt like I was flying. I hadn't ran this fast in too long. I felt powerful. This is what I had been working for. Finally, after more than a month, I was getting back to my normal strength.

"And time," Alex said as he turned off the treadmill. I stumbled to a stop as the treadmill slowed down.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a breath. That was good, actually, that was great. I felt great too. I looked at him with a smile. He was thinking the same thing. Finally, after five weeks of grueling work, it paid off.

"Ellis, I think you are making a full recovery," he said and gave me a high five. He had such excitement in his eyes, it was hard for me not to catch onto it.

I smiled as I held onto the handles of the treadmill. I felt my legs start to shake slightly. Maybe I pushed myself a little too much on the treadmill. I had to sit down. I got off the treadmill and took a seat on a stool. "You really think so?" I asked as I reached for my water to chug down.

Alex nodded, he had been waiting for too long to tell that to me. That was why he was more excited than normal ever since I came in today. "Yeah, in fact, I think it's time you graduate from therapy," he said and pulled out a paper from his bag. He held it in front of me and smiled, waiting for me to react.

"Are you punking serious right now Alex? This better not be a joke," I asked with a smile as I took the certificate from his hands. I looked at my name in gold letters and smiled again. It looked so official. This wasn't a joke.

He nodded with a small laugh. "Yeah. This is your last appointment. Congratulations."

"Hell yeah," I shouted, causing a few people to look at me.

Alex chuckled at me. "I'm now officially clearing you to go back to skating."

I felt my eyes well up with tears as his words sank in. I was free. I was going back to the sport that I loved. "That's Pucking Fantastic," I said with a smile.

He nodded with enthusiasm. "Bring it in," Alex said as he pulled me into a hug. "You did well. I'm proud of you."

I pulled out of the hug and smiled at him. I wiped my eyes and let out a small laugh. I had been dreaming of this day for over a month. This is what it came down to. I was making my dreams come true.

"Now I want you to practice your exercises still. Just because you are not going to see me, doesn't mean that your work is over," he lectured me.

I nodded. I expected as much. I knew I still have progress to make, but I was confident that I could work on that on my own. "I'll keep working. Promise," I said to him as I looked back at the certificate in my hands.

Alex chuckled at me. "Good thing I trust you. I don't think I have ever met someone with as much drive as you have."

I beamed. I wasn't surprised by this statement though. Not many people had the goals that I had. Not many people wanted to go to nationals after recovering from a major surgery. It was going to be hard, but then again, I had done hard things before. I was a figure skater, and it was in my genes to push limits. "I have to get better for my goals."

He nodded. "Yeah, nationals next January, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, with only 10 months to train till then, that sounds like a large goal to achieve. But I know you, and somehow, I can see you doing it. I wish you the best. I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines," he said and checked his phone.

He had another client coming soon. I had to get out of his hair since our appointment was officially over. "Thank you so much for everything Alex. See you around, or maybe not," I said and waved him off.

He chuckled again. "Lordy, I hope I don't see you here again."

I nodded at him as I grabbed my gym bag to change into some normal clothing. "Hear hear to that!" I said to him as I threw one more smile his way. I was grateful for all that he did. He didn't hold back and he wasn't afraid to push me, I needed that. And with that, I left the large therapy room and walked down the hall finding my way to a bathroom.

I quickly pulled out a pair of jeans and a thick oversized sweater. As I slipped them on, I couldn't help but smile, I felt like I was fitting back into my clothing nicely. They weren't so loose on me. I slipped my shoes back on and walked out of the stall. I ran my hand through my hair. By now my short buzz cut was looking more like a stylish pixy cut. I slipped a pearl clip in my hair then walked out into the Hospital lobby.

I looked around the large room that people called the lobby. I stood still for a second as I watched as people walked around. Some looked happy, others looked indifferent, while some of them looked depressed. I had realized that the hospital was like an airport, it collected a lot of people from all walks of life. The more time I had spent here the more I found enjoyment in watching them.

In fact, people watching became one of my favorite hobbies. I liked trying to read them, imaging what they were doing before they came here.

"Hey, El. I didn't think you were coming today," Allyson's voice rang out.

I looked up at her and smiled. "I didn't think you were coming today. Shouldn't you be on bed rest or something?" I asked as I looked at her. Her baby bump was growing larger every week. She had to be due soon. I was amazed to see her here, working.

She shrugged. "That starts in two weeks. Don't rush me," she said as fear crept into her voice.

"You're going to be a great mother to both of your girls. Anyhow, guess who graduated therapy." I said as I showed my certificate.

"Wow! That's huge. Congrats," she said as she looked at my paper that had my name in gold. She pulled out her phone and frowned. "Shoot, El, I have to get up to my floor. I'll see you later."

I smiled. "I'll see you around," I said as I waved goodbye.

I walked out of the hospital with a smile plastered onto my face. I knew that my war with multiple endocrine neoplasia wasn't over, it never would be. I knew that I would constantly have to monitor it and keep it in check. But I was ok with that. because for now, I was healthy, and that was a victory in itself.

I had a new hop in my step as I spotted Callum, sitting in his Range Rover. He had been waiting for me for who knows how long. He spotted me instantly and smirked as he pushed his shades back into place. He waved over to me.

I held up the paper in my hand, highlighting that I had something exciting to share, and smiled at him. He smiled as he clapped coolly as I walked towards him. I got into his car and handed him the certificate. "And we are done with all of this," I said as I smiled at him and handed him my certificate.

He held it up to the light and smiled. "I'm so proud of you, Ellis," he said and kissed my hand.

I beamed. "I'm too!"

"Want to go to Waffle Love to celebrate?"

I nodded. I could go for waffles at three in the afternoon. My stomach rumbled just thinking about those hot and toasty waffles. It was safe to say that my apatite was coming back with full force.

I felt my phone buzz and I pulled it out of my skinny jeans front pocket. I looked at the email I got from an address that I did not recognize. I opened it and quickly scanned what was written. It was from the record label I sent Callum's album to a few weeks ago. Honestly, with all that had happened, I forgot that I sent an email to them. I smiled at the words that popped out to me, Interested, would like to meet, potential.

"What? You don't want waffles? I was expecting a better reaction than a nod," Callum said with a chuckle as he started to drive out of the hospital parking lot.

I nodded, half paying attention to what Callum said to me. I reread the email, make sure I wasn't seeing things. This seemed a little too good to be true, but then again, I knew Callum's band had it in them.

"Earth to Ellis," Callum said as he snapped his fingers at me.

I pried my eyes from my phone and looked at him with a smile.

"What is that smile for?" he asked with a smile. He ran his fingers through his slicked-back hair and laughed. He was completely clueless about what I was about to tell him.

"The label, they emailed me back. They're interested in your band."

His casual body language turned serious as he slammed on the breaks and pulled over to the side of the road. I felt my seat belt dig into my body as it locked up. "Ouch," I said as I rubbed my chest. I wasn't expecting that kind of reaction.

As he didn't realize what he did he turned to me with excitement in his eyes. "What? Let me see." he asked as he took my phone from my hands. I watched as his eyes flew over the words written in the email.

I smiled at him. "I told you that you have potential."

Callum ran his hands through his hair and gave a nervous laugh. He couldn't believe the email himself. "I need to get a hold of the band," Callum said finally.

I nodded as cars passed us. "I think we need to invite them for waffles."

He chuckled. "Yeah, looks like we have a lot of celebrating to do."

"And lots of discussions. This email means you got your foot in the door. We just need to get your whole body into the room now."

Callum nodded with a smile. "Can you text them, ask them to meet us at the restaurant?"

"Already ahead of you," I said as I send a text to the drummer.