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"Yes, anything you want to know" Chrishand on top of Jory's Jory blinked back sleep

"Dad, I' beloaist All the tile my toes and I couldn't If I've broken my back, and that's why I'm in this cast, I want to know the truth, all of it"

"I intend to tell you all the truth," said Chris staunchly

"Is my spine broken?"

"Yes"

"Are s paralyzed?"

"Yes"

Jory blinked, looked stunned, gathered his strength for one last question "Will I dance again?"

"No"

Jory closed his eyes, tightened his lips into a thin line and lay perfectly still

I stepped closer to lean above him, and tenderly I brushed back the dark curls fallen over his brow "Darling, I know you're devastated It wasn't easy for your father to tell you the truth, but you have to know You're not alone in this We're all involved We're here to see you through, to do everything we can You'll adjust Time will heal your body so you won't feel pain, and eventually you'll accept what can't be helped We love you Melodie loves you And you'll be a father come this very January You reached the top of your profession and have been there five yearsthat's more than most people accomplish in a lifetime"

Briefly he er, frustration, a rage so terrible I had to turn away It was all over hi been cheated and stolen froh

When I looked again, his eyes were closed Chris had his fingers on his pulse "Jory, I know you're not sleeping I'ive you another sedative so you can really sleep, and when you wake up, you are going to think about how i to feel sorry for yourself and allow yourself toin bitterness There are people walking the streets today ill never experience what you've already had They haven't traveled the world over and heard the thundering applause and cries of 'bravo, bravo!' They'll never know the heights that were yours and can be yours again in some other field of artistic endeavor Your world has not stopped, son, you've only stumbled The road to achievement is still ahead and wide open, only you'll have to roll along that road instead of run or dance; but you'll achieve again, for it's in you to alin You will just find another craft, another career, and with your family you will find happiness Isn't that what life is all about when you come down to the basics? We want someone to love us, to need us, to share our livesand you have all of that"

My son didn't open his eyes, didn't respond He only lay there as still as if death had already claimed him

Inside I was screa, for Julian had reacted in the very sa hie of his