Potential To Be Strong

Chapter 10: Recovery

After withdrawing from the NHK Trophy, the first thing Yuzuru needs to do is stay off the ice for about a month. It's not something he's exactly thrilled about, but he's already been informed by his personal doctors that that is the first step in his road to recovery. Yuzuru made the decision to stay in Japan for a little longer, asking to go to his family's home as a part of his recovery. Yuzuru asked me to come with him, but I had to decline. That didn't make him too happy, but he understood I had things to be done back in Canada. There is school work that needs to be done and appointments I made before leaving for Japan that I need to keep. This is the first time I'm away from Yuzuru for more than a day or two. But we can live without each other for the meanwhile. However, leaving him in Japan was so hard. We were both quite sad to separate at the airport, but I knew he would be in good hands with his family. Yuzuru made sure to give me a long kiss in a private area so that way the media wouldn't see us. They don't need pictures of us kissing. I know everyone would have a field day with it. Yuzuru didn't need that and neither did I.

Back in Canada, I became swamped with my studies. I began attending a language club. There I speak with people who are also learning new languages as well as people fluent in particular languages. I barely visited the TCC as I needed to concentrate on certain projects for school. I am set to make a few videos of me engaging in conversations with people in languages that I am currently learning. It has to be candid and flow smoothly and naturally. People in the language club are willing to help me out as some of them are in the same classes as me. My time in the club has become quite beneficial to my studies.

When Yuzuru came back from Japan, he continued his road to recovery. I would visit him in my spare time. He doesn't do much besides bed rest and physical therapy. He's allowed to walk around, but only with his crutches. He can't afford to put too much pressure on his ankle or else his condition will get worst.

Today, I have come to Yuzuru's apartment to hang out with him while his mother goes to get some groceries. Yuzuru and I are sitting at his couch while he's playing a video game. I'm just lying on the couch with my feet on Yuzuru's lap. He had physical therapy in the morning and I came over to his apartment during the afternoon. I had lunch with the Hanyu's before Mrs. Hanyu left to buy groceries. After defeating a level, Yuzuru pauses the game. Yuzuru looks over at me. I'm just staring at my phone going to dozens of vocab words in Korean. Learning the language will help once we're at Pyeongchang. I want to be able to converse with the people there in a proper manner. Yuzuru leans over and takes my phone out of my hand. I pout as I look over at my injured boyfriend.

"Yuzu, I was studying," I say trying to get my phone back.

Yuzuru tucks my phone into his back pocket. "I don't care," he says playfully. He pulls me over so that we're sitting side by side. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. I was so worried about leaving you in Japan, but you were going to be with your family so I knew you would be okay."

"I hate being injured. I can barely do anything. And I'll be off the ice for a while. What am I without me in my skates on the ice?"

"You'll be back on the ice in no time. Your life is on the ice so you can't be gone for too long. You'll be fine. You just have to rely on the physical therapy and off-ice training for now."

"Do you think I'll be ready for the Olympics?"

"Only time will tell. But I know you have a lot of people behind you no matter what happens. You are such a strong person, Yuzu, and no one ever wants to see you weak. Not even yourself. But you have your moments and that only means you're human. This is just a speed bump on the road to the Olympics. But that doesn't mean you're out of the game."

Yuzuru pulls me into his lap. He wraps his arms around my waist and buries his head into the side of my neck. I wrap my arms around his body and sit in a comfortable silence. Yuzuru always goes quiet when I try to encourage him. He knows I only speak the truth to him and I would never try to make him feel any other way but hopeful. He appreciates all I do for him as I only want the best for him.

Breaking the comfortable silence between Yuzuru and I, my phone goes off. Yuzuru reaches into his pocket and hands me my phone. I look at it to see a message from my group from the language club. We are planning to meet up before the end of the semester to finish our projects together. I text them my availability for the last few weeks of the semester. Everyone texts their's. We figure what day and time works for everyone before ending the chat. Right before I put my phone away, I receive an individual text from Eric, one of the guys in our group asking if I wanted to grab coffee with him before meeting up with our group. I am about to tell him I can't because I'll be with Yuzuru before that, already knowing Yuzuru's schedule so that way we can spend time together. Suddenly, Yuzuru, who has been looking over my shoulders at me texting this whole time, takes my phone, types something out, and hands it back to me locked. I open my phone to see what Yuzuru has texted Eric. He put: "Sorry, I'm getting coffee with my Olympic Champion boyfriend. See you later." I glare at Yuzuru while he smiles at me sheepishly. I put my phone away before lightly bopping Yuzuru on the tops of his head. I kiss his cheek and get off his lap. Just then, Mrs. Hanyu comes through the door, arms full of grocery. I go to help her as I leave Yuzuru on the coach. Mrs. Hanyu asks me what we did while she was gone. I tell her her son decided to be a jealous puppy. I earn a laugh from Mrs. Hanyu and a complain form the puppy himself.