The sterile scent of antiseptic lingered faintly in the air as Aria sat nervously on the edge of the examination table, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her heart pounded—not out of fear this time, but anticipation. The crisp white walls of the orthopedic clinic seemed almost too bright, too sharp, as though they reflected the fragile hope she had carried here.
The door opened, and Dr. Lawrence stepped in. His silver hair glinted beneath the fluorescent lights, but his movements were steady, confident. He had been monitoring Aria since her injury more than a year ago, guiding her recovery step by painstaking step. Today, she hoped, would be different.
"Lady Aria," he greeted warmly, flipping open the folder in his hands. "It's good to see you. How have you been managing?"
Aria tried to smile, though her voice trembled. "Better… I think. I've been practicing the exercises you gave me. Less pain now. Less stiffness."
Dr. Lawrence adjusted his spectacles, studying the notes. "That's good. Very good. Let's see how the leg looks today."
Aria nodded and carefully stretched her leg forward. The doctor examined her gait as she stood, asked her to walk across the small room, then tested her strength and flexibility. She followed every instruction with a mix of focus and fear, her throat dry.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. For a moment, silence stretched between them.
"Well?" Aria whispered, unable to hide her nerves.
The doctor's eyes softened. "You've made remarkable progress. Truly. When I first saw you, I doubted you'd recover enough for ordinary comfort, let alone professional performance. But now…" He smiled, a genuine warmth in his expression. "Your body has healed far better than I expected. With careful training, I believe you could return to competitive skating."
Aria froze, her lips parting. "I… could?"
"Yes," Dr. Lawrence confirmed, his voice steady. "It won't be easy. You'll need strength conditioning, endurance work, and a trainer who understands your limits. But physically, you have the green light. You've fought through the worst, Lady Aria. And it shows."
Her eyes stung with sudden tears. She clasped a hand over her mouth, a sob caught between disbelief and relief. "I thought… I thought that part of me was gone forever."
The doctor shook his head kindly. "No. You've kept it alive by refusing to give up."
For the first time in so long, the future didn't feel like a closed door. It felt wide open.
---
Later that afternoon, Aria hurried into a cozy café where sunlight filtered through lace curtains. Lila was already there, waving from a corner table, her smile wide as always.
"You're glowing," Lila said as Aria slid into the seat opposite her. "What happened? Don't tell me—it's the doctor, isn't it?"
Aria's laugh trembled with emotion. "Yes. Lila, he said I can skate again. Not just for fun—for real. Professionally."
Lila's hands flew to her mouth before she squealed, drawing curious glances from nearby patrons. "Aria! That's incredible! Oh, I knew it, I just knew you'd make it back!" She leaned forward, eyes bright. "Tell me everything. Every detail."
Aria relayed the doctor's words, her heart racing with each repetition as though she needed to hear it again to believe it. "He said it'll be hard, but not impossible. And I've already survived worse, haven't I?"
"You have," Lila agreed firmly. She reached across the table, gripping Aria's hands. "I'm so proud of you. You're going to shine brighter than ever."
Aria's cheeks flushed, warmth spreading through her chest. "It feels like I'm waking up. Like I've been holding my breath for so long and finally—finally—I can breathe again."
"That deserves a celebration," Lila declared. She dug into her purse, pulling out her phone. "You know what? Elias should hear this too. He'll be thrilled for you."
Aria blinked. "Elias?"
"Yes," Lila said, already dialing. "He's been so busy with his studies, but this is exactly the kind of news he'll want to hear."
Aria's pulse quickened unexpectedly, but she said nothing as Lila put the phone to her ear.
"Elias? It's me," Lila chirped when the call connected. "Listen, you need to come to the café near King's Road. Right now. Aria has amazing news, and you won't want to miss it." She grinned, nodding as Elias responded on the other end. "Perfect. See you soon."
Aria bit her lip. "Lila, was that really necessary?"
"Yes," Lila said, unapologetic. "You two barely see each other these days, and honestly, you could both use more friends you can trust. Besides…" Her grin widened. "I have a feeling this will be interesting."
---
Fifteen minutes later, the café bell chimed, and Elias stepped in. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his coat unbuttoned from haste. His eyes scanned the room before landing on them, softening immediately.
"Aria," he said, approaching the table. "Lila."
Aria rose, offering a nervous smile. "Hello, Elias. It's been a while."
"Too long," he agreed, his gaze flicking briefly to her, then away as though steadying himself. "Lila said you had news?"
Before Aria could answer, Lila burst in. "She's been cleared to skate again! Can you believe it? After everything—she can return to the ice!"
Elias blinked, his composure breaking into visible shock. "Truly?"
Aria nodded, her heart hammering. "Dr. Lawrence… he said my recovery has gone better than expected. That I can train again. Compete again."
Elias exhaled slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "That's… wonderful. I'm glad for you. Truly."
Aria tilted her head. "You know him? Dr. Lawrence?"
Elias's smile deepened, touched with nostalgia. "Of course. He was my mentor when I began my medical studies. He taught me more than any other professor. To hear he's guiding you…" He paused, his voice softening. "I couldn't think of better hands for your care."
Lila clapped her hands together. "Well, that settles it then! The best patient with the best doctor, and the best friends to celebrate with her."
Aria laughed, her tension easing. "Lila, you make it sound like fate."
"Maybe it is," Lila replied mischievously.
They ordered tea and pastries, and soon the table filled with laughter and conversation. Lila teased Aria about her future costumes, Elias asked thoughtful questions about her training plan, and Aria found herself smiling more freely than she had in years.
"So what's your first step?" Elias asked between sips of tea.
"Conditioning," Aria replied. "I'll need to rebuild strength, endurance, balance… all of it. But I don't care how long it takes. I'll do it."
Elias studied her, admiration flickering in his eyes. "That determination… I've always respected it."
Heat crept into her cheeks. "I don't think I've ever heard you say that before."
"Perhaps I should have said it sooner," he admitted softly.
Lila cleared her throat pointedly, her gaze bouncing between them with a grin that made Aria want to roll her eyes. "Well, isn't this cozy?"
Aria laughed nervously. "Lila…"
"What? I'm just happy to see my two favorite people in the same place," Lila said innocently.
The three of them lingered long into the afternoon, the sunlight shifting into golden warmth as shadows stretched across the café floor. For once, the world outside—the rumors, the scandals, the doubts—felt far away.