Multidirectional Instability.
A condition
The muscles in my shoulder can’t support the joint
In it’s increased movement.
It was a condition that constantly inflicted pain
and prevented me from from doing what I love,
dancing,
and competitively at that.
However it was what I loved doing most
that could’ve brought it all to an end.
*************************************************
I awoke that summer afternoon
to blue skies
perky yellow rays of sunshine, bouncing into my room
and the innocent laughter of kids playing on swings and monkey bars.
As I turned ever so slightly in a gentle fluid movement
A numbing jolt of pain
entered my right shoulder
like a strike of lightning
escaping its barrier of clouds in the sky.
I ran downstairs only to realize that today was a huge day.
Today was company auditions for dance.
The pain still lingered in my shoulder.
I quickly unscrewed the clicking cap of the Aleve bottle
only to find two blue dots in the bottom of the canister.
I gently poured the medicine into my hand
hoping that it would relieve my shoulder’s pain.
*********************************************************
I ran through the white creaking door of Dance Studio B
into the dense frigid room.
It was filled with laughter and nerves all cushioned by confidence
the choreography began
easy as pie
I soared through the air
landing in fifth position.
However,
Out of the blue,
my legs collapsed beneath me
like two twigs snapping
in the harsh wind of a storm.
I felt a large wave of heat come over me
like the dust in a sandstorm sweeping the ground
My body itchy, blotchy, and shaky
My face, tired, pale and weak
My skin purple
My heart frail
Every movement felt rushed
My eyes began to leak tears of pain
I was scared of the unknown.
**************************************
I tumbled into the Urgent Care door.
Surrounded by hacking adults and crying kids.
A nurse
Frantic and unaware of my condition pulled me up gently.
She then laid me on a table a few rooms back
Surrounded by polka-dotted curtains
and began connecting me to doo-dads and thing-a-ma-bobs
an IV in my arm
wires suctioned to every inch of my torso.
Everything. Pitch black.
My breathing returned to normal
My body now a smooth blush color
Feeling weak, but safe.
An Aleve Allergy.
Two blue dots in the bottom of a canister.
for a broken key that wouldn't fit the lock of my arm.
What was supposed to save me
Almost lost it all.