The gendarmerie were first on the scene. Soft insistent voices, urging her to hang on.
Hang on? To what? They wouldn’t say.
‘What’s your name. Mademoiselle? Can you hear me.’
‘Marie. Marie De la Frontielle.’ It was as much as her body allowed. She felt so tired.
‘We’ll have you out soon.’
Out? Doctor Martine’s face floated into her vision. His words measured, serious. Trapping her with the diagnosis. No ‘out’, not for her. Not now. Her body was her prison now.
‘It’s like an ice rink out here. Why was she going so fast?’
She always went fast, the ice always her friend: spins, Lutzes, toe-loops, Salchows, nothing stopped her. The applause. Rippling over her, holding her up, making her fly.
‘How long will the Peripherique be shut, do you think? She’s stopped everything for miles.’
‘Who’s the driver?’
‘That figure skater? In the Winter Olympics?’
‘Her? The one…?’
‘Yeah. Fell twice. Never happened before. Her chance of the title. Tragic.’
Tragic? Falling on ice isn’t a tragedy. Even twice. Even losing a final. It’s not being able to stand up afterwards, that’s going to be her tragedy.
‘Do you think she meant it?’
‘Falling?’
‘No, this. Looks like she crashed deliberately.’
‘Why’d she do that? No, the conditions are awful and she’s only young. A star. Whole life ahead of her. Why’d she want to do this?’
Once that was true. Before Doctors and tests and MS. That’s when she had a life.
‘You think she’ll survive?’
Please, no, not that. I wanted to live; surviving isn’t enough.
‘It’d be a tragedy if she does. Look at her legs.’
Ouch
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quite!
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This is really quite sad…
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I know, and I was aiming at flamboyant fantasy… not sure why.
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Took a turn alright (or a spin😉) in a different direction but it was very powerful.
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Wow!
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thanks, that is the nicest three letter word today (after ‘tea?’ that I heard in my half sleep this morning, natch)
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A very sad story in so many ways, Geoff, poor Marie.
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tragic Sundays, methinks..
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Yes, definitely.
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Great read, with amazing visuals! Great job!
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thank you
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Oh god…….. how awful.
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indeed, grim
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Oh dear heavens!! This is a hard hitting bite of tragedy. And so well crafted!
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At least your keyboard was safe from your coffee
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….. just dampened with my tears
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My God, that is really tragic. But very impressively written, Geoff!
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Sorry, not usually gloomy but occasionally it’s where a prompt might take you
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But that is what gives the story its special flow and flair.
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you do say the loveliest things
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Simply how I feel, Geoff 😊
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As they finally cut her free, the fireman who had been merrily keeping her conscious turned to his boss and whispered “I have lost her pulse” . She did not live, she did not survive no she jumped out of the car and skated off into the night leaving her weakened and broken body behind to a chorus of perfect 10s from her guardian angel and his mates.
Two hours later the Peripherique reopened, no one cares what had caused the accident they all were just grateful that that mangled car and body were not theirs! 💜
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that is so lovely…
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I hope you don’t mind but I just wanted to finish it 💜
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not at all, I’m all for collaboration especially when it is so good
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Thank you Geoff, I really felt touched by your post.
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Another “Wow” from the Southern Hemisphere. I hope willowdot21’s ending came true!
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Be lovely wouldn’t it
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So…. now you’re crippling French people? I think I need a new shrink.
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Oh, wow. My husband had MS so I can relate to this on so many levels.😩
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That is awful; I’m glad you didn’t think this crass or insensitive. Thank you for reading.
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Not at all. It was spot on. 🤓
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“Trapping her with the diagnosis” – well put.
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