“We’ve gone less than two.” Lizzy focused on her Apple watch. “What if we don’t make it?”
“It’s about the journey, not the destination.” He hadn’t heard Lizzy sound down before, and he naturally wanted to encourage her. “It’s been a beautiful hike. We can turn around after we rest if you want.”
Her jaw and eyes grew determined. “I am desperate to see my first waterfall.”
The way she said it sounded desperate, almost a moan of longing to see this waterfall.
Chase loved how impassioned she was about everything, and he felt an odd lurch in his gut. What if she said she was‘desperate’ to kiss him? He hid a grunt of frustration at his own longings.
“Can we do hydrotherapy tonight after dinner again?” she asked.
“I’d like that.” He wondered if she’d blindfold him again. He didn’t mind, but it would be great to be in the water with her without the blindfold.
“Thank you. My legs felt rejuvenated after doing that yesterday, and I slept great.”
“We’ll plan on it, then.”
Lizzy walked over to the log and sank down onto it. Chase perched next to her and took out a water bottle of his own. He took a long drink. It was lukewarm, and it was close to eighty out here, but they’d been moving slow enough he wasn’t sweaty or tired.
She blinked up at him, her soft brown eyes vulnerable and hurt. “Don’t you have questions about my condition?”
Who had hurt her? That was the burning question in his mind. Chase clutched his water bottle too tightly, and it crumpled inward. “If you want to tell me about it, I’d love to know more,” he said cautiously.
“I have a mild form of cerebral palsy called mild spastic diplegia, a gross motor function classification of one.” She said the words robotically, but her eyes weren’t dispassionate. They were full of emotion and searching his gaze for something. Reassurance? Understanding?
“I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that.”
She only nodded.
Chase groped for the right questions and the right responses. “What does that mean for you in your daily life?”
“I do pretty well if I keep up with the weight training and cardio routine designed for me, drink my water and eat healthy, but sometimes …” She focused on the trees. “When I get tired,overwhelmed, or stressed, my legs get tired, my knees bow in, and I drag my feet. Sometimes I stumble or trip.” Her gaze lifted to his, full of challenge.
“It’s impressive that you’ve worked so hard to be fit and that it helps your condition,” he said. “I’m sorry sometimes you have to deal with leg fatigue and stumbling.”
She stared at him and then she said in barely above a whisper, “Sometimes I embarrass … other people.”
Did she mean friends, family, or the men she’d dated?
“That doesn’t make sense to me. Why would other people be embarrassed if your legs are tired?”
“It happens.” She shrugged, her eyes innocent and pleading with him to say the right words. What words were those? He might be the ‘kindest’ of his groups of male friends, but that didn’t make him any kind of expert on women or their feelings.
“I’m sorry someone has made you feel like less.” Chase glanced around; nobody close by but their protectors. “About six years ago, one of my buddies in the Rangers stepped on a land mine and lost his leg from the knee down.”
Lizzy sucked in a breath, her eyes compassionate.
“John was confident, happy, and hard-working before the accident. It really took him under to lose his career and his high level of fitness and skill set. He thought for a while he was going to lose his independence and his future. He had to take medical retirement, but his fiancée supported and loved him through it. They both turned to their Savior for help and strength. They’re happily married now. They have a baby girl, and he’s a fitness trainer, motivational speaker, and Instagram influencer.”
“That’s impressive,” she whispered.
“His injury didn’t make him less, but he had to pivot, trust in his Heavenly Father, and find his purpose again.” Chase paused, praying for the right words. “You having cerebral palsy doesn’t make you less. It makes you even more impressive in my eyes.You are a charitable, amazing, strong, and beautiful woman, Lizzy. I don’t know you well, but your happiness is infectious, and it seems like you already have an incredible purpose in life. I pray you don’t allow anyone to make you feel like less.”
She studied him, and then a beautiful smile broke out on her face. “Thank you, Chase.” Her voice was soft, and then she sang out, “‘I have confidence in me’.”
Chase smiled. He was relieved that she’d seemed to digest his words. It would be hard to live with any kind of disability, but he sure hoped Lizzy didn’t ever feel like less or let anyone put her down. She was a light and inspiration to him and he was sure to many others. “What is the song from?”
“Ah.” Her jaw dropped, and she shook her head in disappointment. “The Sound of Music. Maria has to give herself a pep talk before she goes to face the Captain and his seven children. We absolutely must watch the movie.”
