Chapter 237
Alright, get some rest now. Tomorrow morning we’re helping Lucille with her recovery. Let the past be past. We’ll help her build a better future!”
Pain and Joy
The next day, Lucille still went for rehab early in the morning. Last night’s events hadn’t left much gloom in her heart.
Aydan and Linda came together to accompany her training.
“Starting everything anew” sounded grand in theory, but putting it into action revealed its true difficulty.
Nearly ten days into this Magraica trip, Lucille persisted with daily rehab. Though she pushed through each day, her body’s flexibility refused to improve, and no substantial changes emerged.
Her foot remained unresponsive.
Moreover, every training session with that injured foot brought excruciating pain.
Truthfully, she ate heartily at every meal in Magraica without dietary restrictions, yet she’d lost nearly ten pounds since arriving.
Naturally slender, she now looked paper–thin in her black leotard.
This wasn’t just from training–pain was the main culprit.
It hurt during practice. It hurt after practice.
At night, she secretly massaged her foot under the blankets for a full hour.
Exhausted yet unable to sleep from the pain.
Still, she refused to give up.
Recalling her barren life these past five years, she questioned: What’s the purpose of human existence?
To pursue one’s passions?
To live as one desires?
If so, Lucille, what do you want?
Dancing! Absolutely!
Even as a lame little swallow, even if she could never soar again, she’d keep dancing clumsily onstage–if only for
herself!
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Chapter 237
Once she embraced this truth, every day overflowed with joy.
Pain coexisted with happiness in her heart!
That sufficed!
Ten minutes into warm–ups, by the fifteenth minute, sweat drenched her leotard from the pain.
11 288 Vouchers
Aydan and Linda had grown accustomed to this. They knew Lucille suffered immensely, but as fellow dancers, they understood dance’s significance. So they never urged her to stop, only striving to assist and support her.
Thirty minutes later, Lucille reached her limit. Her injured leg buckled, sending her crashing to the floor with a heavy thud.
“Lucille!
Are you okay?
Sorry, I didn’t protect you properly.”
Aydan’s voice brimmed with guilt.
Lucille shook her head, sweat cascading down her face as she gritted her teeth. “Not your fault, Aydan. I can’t rely on your protection forever. I must stand on my own… gradually…”
Before she finished speaking, a dark figure surged forward, shoving Aydan aside.
Lucille felt weightless as someone lifted her from the floor.
“Lucille, are you hurt?
I’m taking you to the hospital!”
It was Cedrick.
How did he find this place!
Why was he back!
“Why you again?
Put me down!”
Lucille’s tone dripped with annoyance.
“What do you mean ‘again“?”
Cedrick retorted, “If not for me, you could’ve died from that fall with no one caring!”
Another figure hurried into the rehearsal hall, approaching them. “Exactly, Lucille. Ced cares about you. Don’t always listen to others provoking you against him. He’s the closest to you.”
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Chapter 237
288 Vouchers
Lucille was already a bit down about making little progress today, and seeing them only soured her mood more. She struggled out of Cedrick’s arms. “My closest person?
My closest person?
Then why is she with you?”
Maricela’s eyes instantly reddened as she lowered her head, looking utterly wronged.
Cedrick stood stiffly beside her, his expression stern. “What are you implying?
Did Maricela say anything wrong?
She meant well, and you mock her?”
Maricela hastily tugged Cedrick’s sleeve, her voice trembling and sweet. “Cedrick, don’t scold Lucille. She’s just up- set. You should understand her.”
Cedrick fell silent, his sharp eyes blazing with anger at Lucille.