That poor girl. Whatever had happened, Veronica hoped she didn’t have to suffer any more. She didn’t owe her anything but couldn’t help feeling, that in this case, maybe that wasn’t the point. She reached for her phone to search Sydney flower shops but stopped herself. Would the gesture be seen for what it was? A kind one. Or would it be seen as an attempt to mock Ava? It wouldn’t do to write ‘Sorry you’re still having throat troubles. No hard feelings, yeah?’
Ava awoke to the soft sounds of Jasmine calling her name. She sat up and had to do a double take. Surrounding her bed were half a dozen children of various ages. Probably ranging from six to twelve in a rough guess. The tube had been removed, but her throat felt like a piece of burnt meat.
“Ava...” Jasmine said in a voice barely above a whisper, “these lovely kids found out you were here and wanted to come up and see you. I said you wouldn’t mind. I hope that’s OK.”
What part of no visitors does she not understand?But Ava merely smiled as best she could. She placed her fingers on her throat and mouthed the words, “I can’t”.
“That’s OK. All of these children are deaf,” Jasmine said, wrapping her arms around the nearest two.
Ava swallowed and cringed at the pain it caused as she looked at the tiny faces looking back at her that might have never uttered a word in their entire lives, might have never heard a sound. Yet that didn’t make them any less remarkable in her eyes. She knew what Jasmine was trying to do. If Ava could see the beauty in others who were different, who had, had something taken away, like their ability to hear or speak, why couldn’t she see it in herself?
Jasmine took things slowly, handing over drawings and pictures the kids had made for Ava. Get well cards. Chocolates. Even money. Dollar coins and five-dollar notes from their allowances and the contents of their piggy banks.
Ava placed her hands together in thanks but made sure to give Jasmine a look. Jasmine saw it and nodded, placing the money back in her pocket. Ava had no intention of keeping it, and Jasmine would make sure to give it all back. The gesture, though, touched Ava.
Finally, Jasmine pulled out a small piece of paper. “The kids and their tutor worked on this today. And I’m going to read it for you. ‘Dear Ms Beckinsale. We are from The St. Francis School for the Hearing Impaired. Our names are Fred, Cecilia, Nakia, Phil, Austin and Davinia. We aren’t old enough to watch fighting, but we know who you are. We saw on TV and the internet, all the things that happened to you. We are so sorry you got hurt but wanted you to know...’”
Jasmine swallowed, took a few seconds, and continued, “‘that you have helped us. We get sad sometimes that we can’t hear or speak. And that’s OK. Because we learnt something. Something from you. You got hurt, but you didn’t give up. You were sad. But you keep going. You keep fighting. We hope that you never stop trying, and we promise we won’t either.
We all voted and decided to give you something that was given to us months ago by another fighter. We love them, but we hope they will always make you think of us and the promise we made. And we hope you always remember some of the best messages you can give to people...” Jasmine choked a touch as tears streamed down her face. “Don’t need words at all.”
Jasmine gestured to one of the kids who had been holding something in his hands the whole time. He walked forward with an adorable little smile and placed a bundle on her bed, then backed away. Ava placed her hand on the shiny, soft material and brought it closer to her face. Fighting shorts in the design of an Australian flag. She ran her eyes over them and saw something that made her stop breathing for a second. She touched her fingertips to a signature. An elegant one at that. These were shorts signed by Owen Gasnier.
Ava kept it together long enough to hug each and every one of the kids before Jasmine led them out. Thanking them silently for showing her something she’d needed but had feared she’d never find.
Hope.
The Cage called to her but did she have what it took or had the first few moments of the exhibition been a fluke? In the end, Veronica Nash had defeated her, but she hadn’t broken her. And there was no point in denying that she only had one opponent on her mind. She wouldn’t know if she truly belonged in that world until she faced Nash at least one more time.
The kids’ belief in her had picked her up and inspired her, but it had also reminded her that if she didn’t believe in herself, all hope was lost. She grabbed on to the desire that was still raging within. She was finished with feeling sorry for herself. She was lucky. She didn’t have to speak to follow her dream. She just had to fight.
Jasmine returned and sat next to the bed. Placing a hand on Ava’s knee and giving it a gentle caress, she said, “I haven’t had a chance to thank you. For everything you did.”
Ava waved her hand gently.It’s nothing.
“No, it really isn’t. You saved me. Watching over me like you always did. I cannot believe I was so stupid. I should’ve tried harder to find you. I should’ve—”
Ava touched Jasmine’s hand. She didn’t need her to continue.
“No. I have to get this out. That kiss brought it all back. You. Us. You were everything to me, and I just let you go. I spent all that time talking about myself and my hardships. I never once even asked about yours. What that monster did to you. I’m so sorry, but I hope you’ll let me make it right.”
Ava leant back in the bed, settling. Trying to make sure her voice would hold, she gritted her teeth through the pain. She needed to say this, not leave it open to mouthing interpretations. Relaxing her jaw, she said, “You’ve never been far from my thoughts.”
Jasmine smiled and leaned in closer. “Come away with me.” Ava gave her a confused look, and she continued, “When you’re better. I don’t want to be here anymore. In this city. Anywhere that Adam is and where we’ve had so many horrible experiences. Let’s go away. Away from that doctor and what he did. Away from our parents. Let’s just leave all of it. I don’t care anymore about what my parents think. I’m going to get a divorce. You’ve got nothing keeping you here. The boys will understand. So, whattya say?”
Ava took her time, trying to will the pain away as she gathered her thoughts to speak. “I can’t.”
“I don’t mean right now—”
“No. Not because of that,” she replied, pausing to take a sip of water from her cup, leaning back so it could actually go down her throat. “I have to stay.”
“Why? The boys will be fine.”
“No,” Ava said, gripping the shorts tight.
Jasmine saw it and her shoulders dropped. “No.” Jasmine repeated. “Don’t tell me you’re going back in the Cage? Not after everything that’s happened.”
“I have to.”