James jumped up to catch the ball and when he landed his ankle forgot to catch him. His right ankle went out from under him and he fell heavily with a loud thump on the dusty concrete. Anna didn’t move. Diana and Michael’s face fell pale. It felt like hours had passed and James hadn’t as much as moved a muscle. A completely innocuous and innocent action left the front yard silenced. As James jumped to make the shot he spun to ensure he missed Nate as he landed and now the boy had silent tears streaming down his face.

As if everything was happening in slow motion, Anna sprung up and raced to his side. She accidentally ran Madison over as she tried to get to James, who was lying helpless on the ground. As gently as possible she rolled him onto his back. The agony was etched into his face. His eyes were full of unshed tears, his lip was trembling. Anna read the fear in James face. He wasn’t stupid, although in this moment Anna couldn’t help but wish he was. They didn’t need to speak the words aloud to both realise what this could do to his World Championship campaign. Kids who only moments ago had been laughing and playing without a care in the world were now watching as one of their idols lie motionless on the driveway clutching at his swelling ankle.

“Anna…my ankle. It’s fucked,” James blubbered.

As the words registered in Anna’s brain her heart broke. All she could see was the broken man in front of her, his dreams in tatters and his strength barely hanging by a thread.

It was as if James’s simple pain-filled words jolted everyone to action. Suddenly everything was happening all at once. Kathryn came racing out with a tea towel full of ice. Diana backed the car up as close as she could without running over her injured son. Michael and Brandon lifted James into the backseat of the land cruiser. Anna scampered in beside him and held the ice to his ankle, and as soon as he was secure, Diana headed down the driveway.

“I’ll ring the hospital and let them know that you’re on your way,” Kathryn called out after them.

Kate’s eyes filled with guilt. She started to sob, “It’s all my fault. If he weren’t playing that stupid game, he wouldn’t have hurt himself. What if he can’t swim anymore? It’s all my fault,” Kate spluttered between gut wrenching sobs.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, for once in your life, it’s not about you, Kate,” Kelley chastised her sister.

Michael tried his best to reassure Kate. “It’s not your fault, Katie. It was only a game. He plays all the time. You couldn’t have known that he would get hurt. He’ll be okay. He will swim, you’ll see,” Michael stated as firmly as he could muster. But there was distrust in his eyes. It was obvious to anyone who dared to look close enough that even he didn’t know how far he was stretching the truth.

***

Anna

James was rushed straight through for an x-ray as soon as they arrived without even pausing at admissions. Anna and Diana paced nervously in the waiting room for news, any news. Good, bad, or indifferent, they really didn’t care. They just wanted someone to tell them something. But nothing came. The doctor walked straight past them and into James’s room without as much as a glance in their direction. Nurses emerged with dejected faces. None of the signs looked promising. If possible they looked like they were getting even gloomier. Anna was fizzing with impatience. News spread around the hospital like wildfire that James was in emergency and soon the waiting room began filling.

A young nurse came out of the room. “Mrs. Thompson, Ms. White?” she enquired, looking more than a little lost and overwhelmed. She was a tall scraggly looking woman. Her long blonde hair was in disarray, flowing in glorious golden abandon over her shoulder. Her thin white apron wasn’t doing much to hide the soft, feminine curves of her body. She stood, hands on hips, as her eyes darted around the waiting room searching for the women.

Anna shot a worried glance at Diana. Together they anxiously stood up. Diana clutched at Anna’s hand. Anna gave it a quick squeeze. Anna knew James. And she knew that he wouldn’t let this minor setback derail him. James was stubborn if nothing else. He wouldn’t give up. Not now. Not when he was so close. “Can you please follow me?” the bouncy young nurse invited.

Hand in hand, Diana and Anna navigated their way through the corridors and into the room. James lay motionless on the bed; his face told the story of heartbreak and dejection. Anna couldn’t help herself. She ambled over and perched herself on the edge of James’s bed; Diana stood quietly, barely in the door. Wrapping her hand in James’s, the warmth there gave Anna the courage to breathe for the first time. But in the same moment that Anna felt like she had regained her bearings she risked a glance at Diana. Something was off. She could feel it. The desperation and worry that had consumed Diana on the drive had faded and in its place was a sadness that Anna didn’t understand.

“Sweetie.” Anna brushed the hair off his forehead. “What’s the verdict? You okay?” The desperation was obvious as Anna tried to fight back tears. She was praying that he was okay.

James turned his head and looked at Anna directly. “I’m gonna be fine. I’ve just rolled my ankle. If I keep off it for a few days and rest up it shouldn’t even affect my campaign,” James explained as a smile of relief crept across his face.

Diana let out a heavy sigh. “That’s great news, honey. I’ll go and ring the others and let them know the good news.” Diana gave him a quick kiss on his forehead before vanishing out the door.

The blonde nurse told them that she would go find him a pair of crutches, and then Anna could take him home.

Once they were alone Anna’s tears surfaced. “Thank god you’re okay. I have never been so scared in my life. You do realise that you are officially banned from playing basketball, especially with my sister. Forever,” Anna laughed, giving James a hug so tight it almost cut off his circulation.

“Hey, hey,” James murmured, lifting her head up to his face. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. Everything is going to be okay. But you, my dear, are just going to have to be at my beck and call for the next couple of weeks,” he reaffirmed with a smirk.

“Weeks?”

“Yep–weeks.”

“Really?” Anna raised a quizzical eyebrow.

“Okay, maybe days,” James conceded.

“I think I can manage that.” Anna sniffed, wiping at her face.

A few minutes later the nurse reappeared with a set of crutches, which she adjusted awkwardly to accommodate James’s towering height. After signing a few autographs, Anna led him out of the hospital and helped him into the car. Diana was more than happy to get as far away from the hospital as quickly as possible.

“Let’s go home,” Diana said, turning out of the hospital car park.

***

Joel

When the news reached Joel he was sent spinning. The first he heard of it was when a news bulletin broke the silence announcing, “James Thompson has been admitted to hospital only a week before he was due to fly out to represent Australia at the upcoming World Championships in Manchester.” Before the bulletin had even finished, Joel was pacing the room, trying desperately to get Anna on the phone.

“Anna! What the hell happened? Is he okay?” Joel’s heart was racing. He knew how much James loved the opportunity to represent his country and race with the best of the best.

“Joel, breathe…just breathe. He’s fine. It’s just a sprained ankle. As long as he listens to the doctor and keeps off it he’ll be fine.” Anna’s tone was firm and reassuring.

Joel let out the breath he didn’t realise he was holding. “Thank fuck. Can you handle him? Make him stay in bed for a few days.”

“No probs. I have my ways,” Anna giggled.

“I do not want details.” Joel laughed, before wishing her good luck and hanging up.