章 8: Meeting Diane Again

Benjamin woke up the following day feeling just as determined.

He had pushed the disappointment of the night before to the back of his memory. Now he knew what he needed to do.

He had the chance to prove to everyone that he was still the gifted player they knew, if not more, in the scouting match in two months. He had no intention of wasting time pitying himself.

He had found comfort in his everyday routine throughout this tumultuous period.

He began with a leisurely jog after a light breakfast. He was cautious not to go overboard and maintained a steady pace. Even though his left leg was still recovering, every step felt a little more fluid than it had the day before.

It was no longer just about the physical improvement. It was about maintaining mental focus and proving to himself that he was capable of overcoming this.

After finishing his jog, Benjamin performed a series of yoga poses. His muscles relaxed as a result of the stretches, relieving the stress that had accumulated in his body.

He had already made yoga a daily habit that he looked forward to. It was now more about mental toughness than it was about recuperation.

He played with the ball in his backyard after doing yoga. He had found comfort in his dad's tiny training space. Benjamin was determined to maintain a sharp touch, even though he was still unable to use his left foot at full throttle.

He practiced control and precision with his right foot by dribbling lightly. With constant practice, he had improved his use of his right foot significantly. His left leg was still stiff but he could feel the strength slowly returning.

For a week, the daily routine consisted of jogging, stretching, and ball work.

Now that he had the opportunity of the scouting match in two months, Benjamin was feeling more upbeat and determined to keep going.

Coach Jansen called one morning with some news. He said over the phone, "Benjamin, it's time to have those leg braces taken off. I've spoken with the doctor, and they're ready for you."

A rush of excitement swept through Benjamin. He had been wearing the braces for months, and now was the time to take them off permanently. He was eager to walk without the awkward support on his leg because it represented a significant improvement in his recovery.

Since Benjamin was still too young to drive, Coach Jansen picked him up in his vehicle.

He had obtained his learner's permit at the age of seventeen, but he had not yet taken the licensing exam. Until he recovered completely, he was not allowed to drive his father's vehicle.

It was a peaceful ride to Spaarne Gasthuis Hospital. As he gazed out the window, Benjamin's mind was racing with ideas about what it would be like to have the braces removed.

Would the feeling in his leg return to normal? Would there be no discomfort when he trained?

He hoped that after the braces were taken off, everything will return to normal or maybe improve. He understood in his heart, however, that recovery wasn't that easy.

The doctor, an elderly guy with graying hair and a serious face, welcomed them to the hospital and gestured Benjamin into an examination room.

The sensation of having his leg free again was indescribable, but taking off the braces was a quick process. He tested the movements by softly flexing his knee. There was some stiffness, but not much discomfort. It was progress.

The doctor inquired, keeping a close eye on Benjamin's movements, "How does it feel?"

"Better" Benjamin responded, a smile began to appear on his face. "Feels good to finally have them off."

The doctor nodded, but his expression appeared solemn. "That's wonderful to hear, but I must take a moment to talk to Coach Jansen. Would you mind waiting outside, Benjamin?"

Although Benjamin's excitement lessened a bit, he nodded and left the room.

A part of him kept thinking that something might be wrong, even though he knew doctors liked to be cautious. He walked down the corridor to divert his attention from the thought, trying not to think about it too much.

The room fell silent as the door clicked shut behind Benjamin.

Coach Jansen shifted in his chair, feeling that the doctor wanted to talk about something important. He saw the doctor flip through Benjamin's medical paperwork while seated across from him.

Calmly, the doctor began in a light tone, "I'm glad Benjamin is healing well, He's made good progress since the injury, but there's something we need to discuss regarding his left leg."

Coach Jansen's focus sharpened and he leaned forward a little. The doctor's somber manner indicated there was more to the story, even though he had been relieved to see Benjamin walking without the braces.

"The problem is that even though his leg is healing well, there is still a chance... roughly a 10% chance that the injury could recur," the doctor went on, "A tibial plateau fracture is relatively unusual, particularly in athletes who strain their legs a lot."

A knot formed in Coach Jansen's stomach. Ten percent. That might not seem like much, but for someone like Benjamin, whose entire future depended on his football abilities, even a small risk could have disastrous consequences.

"Is there anything we can do to lower that risk or even stop it completely?" Trying to keep a steady tone, Coach Jansen inquired.

He didn't want Benjamin to become another casualty of injury, which had claimed the aspirations of several young, talented players.

The doctor nodded, but his expression didn't lighten. "With surgery, we can further lower the danger and possibly have a small chance of curing it. Although it's not a surefire fix, it would strengthen the knee's bone and increase its stability."

"We're conservatively managing the recovery process without surgery, which is sufficient for daily activities. However, with time, the strain can become too severe for high-level sports."

Coach Jansen reclined in his chair, taking in the words. Surgery would involve more time, more recovery, and above all, more money.

The Haarlem Youth Academy was not a large club academy. Despite their concern for their players, they had limited finances, the directors would be hesitant to spend money on a costly surgery unless they were certain that it would be beneficial in the long run.

He tried to picture having this conversation with the board members of the academy. He could already hear them: "A risk of 10% isn't that high. Let's wait and see."

However, Coach Jansen was aware that waiting might result in the worst case scenario; a recurring injury that could put an end to Benjamin's career before it had even begun.

His thoughts were racing. What could he do? He was unable to make the academy cover the cost of the surgery. Benjamin wasn't left with much wealth from his late parents to cover the costs either.

The boy's parents had done their best to support Benjamin's football dreams before their death. Surgery wasn't something Benjamin could afford.

"How urgent is this surgery?" Coach Jansen asked, in an attempt to buy time.

The doctor shook his head. "It's not something that needs to be done right away. Benjamin can continue his recovery and training, but if he plans to pursue football at a high level, it's something we'll have to seriously consider sooner rather than later."

"Without the surgery, the risk is there. He could reinjure the leg during training or a game, and that could complicate things further."

Coach Jansen nodded, but he was worried on the inside. Given how difficult things had been for Benjamin, he didn't want to see him suffer any more setbacks. Especially not after how hard the boy had worked to get to this point.

However, the reality was harsh. The academy directors were unlikely to take that risk for a player who wasn't expected to generate much revenue because the surgery was an expensive gamble.

"Thank you, Doctor," Coach Jansen said and got up to shake the man's hand. "Thank you for being honest. I'll discuss this with Benjamin, and we'll make sure he understands what's at stake."

The doctor smiled sympathetically, "Coach Jansen, Benjamin has a lot of potential. He can still have a promising football career with the right care. Just make sure he doesn't put much strain on his leg and takes it easy for the time being."

Coach Jansen's mind was a mess when he left the office. The car ride back with Benjamin would be difficult.

There was no use worrying the youngster about something they might not even be able to do, therefore he wasn't going to tell him about the surgery just yet.

Benjamin needed to concentrate on his recuperation, his training, and the forthcoming scouting trial for the time being. However, the decision's burden weighed heavily in Coach Jansen's mind.

As he walked down the corridor, he thought regretfully, "The directors of the Haarlem Youth Academy will not agree to pay for the surgery. All I can do is hope that the worst doesn't happen."

***

In the meantime, as Benjamin was out and about, he bumped into nurse Diane who had cared for him during his initial recovery in the hospital.

"Benjamin!" She exclaimed and her beautiful face brightened upon seeing him. "Look at you, walking without those braces. How do you feel moving around without them?"

Benjamin surprised, he had only just realized how beautiful Diane was. He smiled and replied, "It feels great. I'm relieved to be free of them, even though it feels weird not having them on."

Diane smiled warmly. "That makes me delighted to hear. Since your initial arrival, you have made significant progress. How is the rest of your recovery going?"

"Slow but steady," replied Benjamin. "I'm still working on getting my full strength back, but it's going well."

"I'm glad to hear that. Please continue to take it easy. Don't exert too much pressure on yourself."

Benjamin nodded, appreciating her concern. "I'm focused and doing the best I can, although it can be challenging at times. In a couple of months, I have a big game... actually, a scouting trial. An opportunity to show my abilities to certain scouts."

Diane's eyes widened. "That's incredible, Benjamin! Without a doubt, I'll keep an eye out for that. I might come see you play if I have some free time."

Benjamin laughed. "You ought to. For me, it will be an important occasion."

They exchanged contacts and spoke for a few more minutes. It was nice to catch up, and Diane had always been nice to him.

They were just wrapping up their conversation when Benjamin spotted Coach Jansen walking down the hallway toward them.

"I'd better get going," Benjamin said without pausing, "It was nice talking to you, Diane."

"You too, Benjamin," she replied. "Good luck with everything."

Benjamin nodded and he turned to meet Coach Jansen. The coach's face was void of emotions, but Benjamin could tell that something was on his mind.

"Everything okay?" As they made their way back to the car, Benjamin inquired.

"Yeah," Coach Jansen responded, but his voice wasn't as assured as usual. "The doctor just gave me a few medical suggestions about your leg. But there's nothing to be concerned about. Come on, let's get you home."

Benjamin considered pressing him further, but changed his mind.

He had faith that Coach Jansen would let him know if there was anything wrong. All he could do now was concentrate on his recovery and prepare for the scouting match for the time being.

Benjamin's mind was already racing with thoughts for the next two months as they drove home.

Now that his leg braces were off, he was one step closer to regaining his future on the field after overcoming one of the most difficult obstacles of his life.

He had thought all was lost, but now, things were moving in the right direction.

He wasn't going to waste the opportunity to prove everyone wrong during the scouting trial.