Wish

Life demands a lot, it takes a lot away and gives a little. We let it happen, when we are the ones who can change it and make life ours.

Aaron was devastated. His left leg was not moving. He was getting upset while laying on the hospital bed waiting for someone to come inside and tell him why his leg is not responding. He cared less about the rest of him. He wanted to know that his leg is okay.

Before he could explode of frustration, the door opened and a nurse came in. He expectantly looked at the lady and followed her movement. She checked his drip and pressure, and turned to leave.

"Excuse me, mam?"

She turned.

"Can you tell me what is going on with my leg? I can't move it!" His desperation was clear.

"Oh, the knees were injured and there are tissue damages. Doctors are waiting for test results to decide. You are on pain meds, so you might not be feeling anything. Don't worry, kid."

She left with a kind smile.

Aaron sighed and sank deeper into the pillow. His eyes filled, when he remembered the soccer game.

He was a soccer player in his college team. Today was the big game, the final one before his course ends. Everyone was excited about a scout team coming over for watching the game. He was excited too, but not about getting scouted. He was excited about something else, a dream of his, a legacy of his father's.

He was surprised when he got hit by something tremendous in the stadium, during the game. He remembered the pain. He lost consciousness sooner. What might have happened to the game or the worried him less. He was afraid of letting down his dream and his father's passion.

"Hey, dude!" Leon entered the room still wearing his sweaty jersey and dirty shoes.

Aaron lifted his head and grunted a reply.

"How is it? They said your leg was injured badly. Also, see you have got a headband!" Leon tried to cheer him up, taking a place on the chair next to the bed.

Aaron touched the dressing on his forehead and looked at Leon. He didn't feel that injury before.

"Don't worry. It's just a scratch, they say."

"How was the game? Where are the others?"

" We were doing kind of okay until that Andrew guy hit you like a bull. But, then they lost the rhythm and we won the game! Coach was talking with the scout members and he called in some of the players."

Aaron saw the sadness on Leon's face.

"It's okay, Leo. At least you were not hit by an 'Andrew'." Aaron tried to change the topic.

"Yeah. That's worse. Your mother is on the way. I talked to her. It's just a knee, right? You were not interested in a future in soccer!"

Aaron was not able to pretend that it was okay. His best friend caught on to it and shook his shoulder, "What's it, Aaron? What's the matter?"

Aaron inhaled deeper and controlled his voice from shaking, " I wanted something else. It was a wish of my father to see me join the forces like he did. After he died in the field, I was reluctant to think about it. But my mom told me about how proud he was there and how much he wanted me to know that. I finally decided to give it a try and attempted the aptitude exam. I passed it, enough to enter the air force, just like my dad!"

Leon's face shone with realization.

"Your injury might prevent you from joining!"

Aaron nodded. He didn't want his injury to prevent anything that he wanted.

***

The wait was torturous. Doctors came in with the results and explained him the injuries. His knees required urgent surgery, but the muscle damages where a threat. If anything goes wrong during the surgery, he might lose movement of his leg or worse, his leg itself. If not treated, he might have a disability for a lifetime. He didn't want to wait for the muscles to heal before the surgery. Surgery or not, there were risks. Many things were at stake with his injured leg. His mother agreed with him and they consented the doctors for the surgery, accepting the risks.

***

One year later.

Aaron walked carefully through the base in his pilot uniform. His synthetic leg gave his movement a new spirit as he spoke on his phone with the love of his life. Melena came into his life as his physiotherapist. She supported him and tried to lift his dreams and show him that nothing is an end to what he wishes. He entered the cockpit and saluted his fellow co-pilot.

The dream he wanted to full-fill took a turn, when his surgery went wrong and his leg was removed. He was not able to join the forces. But he gave his dream a new life and planned to become a pilot. With his advanced synthetic leg, he was still considered a disabled person. But, his will didn't let him stop. Melena and his mother encouraged him at every stages of his development. He tried harder and harder, pushed through his limits and lived for his dream.

He showed that his disability was his new ability. His people showed him his stronger inner self and made him a new person. He was able to see past his problems and limitations. He passed all the tests and became a commercial pilot.

It was not as same as his father. He was but able to feel what his father felt.

When Aaron sat on his seat and wore the microphones, he visualized his father and the emotions flowed through him. He waited for the instructions and nodded at the co-pilot, and pushed the controls.

Now the controls of his life are on his own hands. He learned to live his life and make his choices.

***