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Finish Line
Jessica is just recovering from her recent accident and learning how to do simple everyday tasks like showering and brushing her hair without her right leg. In her eyes, the loss of her leg virtually destroyed the whole rest of her life and she doesn't feel any hope that life can ever be good again without running. This is the finish line because it not only represents the finish line of the last symbolic race Jessica ran, but it also represents the end of her track career. -
Finish Line Quote
“It’s a new personal best for me.
A new record for the league.
It’s also the last race of my life.
My finish line.” -
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Finish Line
The time period post-accident and during recovery. -
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The Running Dream
Everyday since her accident, Jessica has a running dream where she runs on both her legs on the usual route she ran before her accident. -
Crutches Quote
"I am a runner. That's what I do. That's who I am. Running is all I know, or want, or care about.
Running aired out my soul. It made me feel alive.
And now?
I'm stuck in this bed, knowing I'll never run again." "My hands death grip the crutches and I hobble forward. A few days ago I ran a fifty-five flat in the 400-meter. Today I'm taking five minutes to go twenty feet." -
Crutches
Since her leg has been amputated, Jessica must learn to painstakingly move around, carry her IV stand, and go to the bathroom with crutches. The crutches symbolize Jessica's way of life from now on as well as her now crippled soul of not ever being able to do what she loves again and her dreams of becoming an amazing runner. -
Rigor Mortis Bend/White Chrysanthemums
The "Riger Mortis Bend" is the final turn at the 300 mark in the 400 meter dash where runners have to rely on their sole determination rather than physical strength. Jessica has to rely on her mental strength to accept this emotionally challenging disaster. She has to deal with the tragic truth of having her passion lost forever. A white chrysanthemum best represents her Rigor Mortis Bend. Both symbolize the grief she's feeling as well as her grudging acknowledgement of the truth. -
Rigor Mortis Bend/White Chrysanthemums Quote
"Rigor Mortis Bend. It's a place in the 400-meter race where every cell of your body locks up. Your lungs ache for air. Your quads turn to cement. Your arms pump desperately, but they're stiff and feel like lead.
Your determination is all that's left. It forces your muscles to fire. Forces you to stay in the race. Forces you to survive the pain of this moment.
Rigor Mortis Bend.
I feel like I'm living on Rigor Mortis Bend." -
Zinnias
For the first time since her accident, Jessica sees her full right leg when she accidentally walks in on her mother looking at past pictures of her track meets. Jessica feels many confliction emotions. Zinnias represent her mindset. She is reminiscence of her successful lost running career while still attached to the sport and unable to really let it go. -
Zinnias Quote
"For the first time in weeks I see my right leg.
My whole right leg.
Gold shorts, royal blue singlet, three medals around my neck, and two legs. Two strong, smooth, furiously fast legs.
I want to say something, but I can't find the words, and neither can she. All we can do is wrap our arms around each other and hold on tight." -
Headwind
Jessica has to learn to get used to her school life without a leg, and she copes with the physical and emotional difficulties she faces. She has to completely alter her usual transportation routines as well as deal with unsupportive peers and teachers. This is the port-accident period where Jessica struggles most and hits a headwind. -
Headwind Quotes
"'You're the same person!'
No, I think, I'm not.
It hurts to realize how unnecessary I am. From what little I've let Fiona tell me, school life seems the same as always... I fell off, but the merry-go-round keeps moving." -
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Headwind
Jessica goes back to school and begins to get to used to her normal life again. -
Morning
Jessica, not wanting to alter her routine of running in the morning, decides to go outside to at least play ball with her dog. Morning is the usual time she runs, and it is where she feels most alive in the sport. However, now morning has become full of mixed emotions-- anger, regret, grief, and jealousy. -
Morning Quotes
"...the stinging is replaced by a flush of adrenaline.
Of anger.
Not at the guy who crashed into our bus.
Not at God.
At me.
It's peacefu out, and for a moment I enjoy sitting with Sherlock, sharing the morning.
But then I hear something.
I don't want to hear this. Don't want to see it. Still, I can't turn away.
And there he is. In light gray sweats. Lost in his own rhythmic world. A runner. " -
Baby Steps
Jessica slowly takes her first baby steps into recovery by hoisting herself slowly step by step up the staircase to shower. To Jessica, this is a big improvement and a great leap forward. After successfully traveling upstairs, she feels triumphant and hopeful. Jessica's baby steps are like that of a blossoming tulip just beginning to open its petals. -
Baby Steps Quotes
"My right thigh is burning from holding up my stump as I push one more time.
I look down at the run of stairs and feel an overwhelming sense of triumph.
I'm upstairs." -
Back to School/Blue Topaz
The blue topaz represents Jessica's return to school after weeks of recovery. It symbolizes that Jessica is gradually overcoming her fears and obstacles and making even more improvement. It also signifies the power of friendship when Fiona, Jessica's best friend and fellow teammate, helps Jessica so much to adjust to her new life by aiding her in every class, constantly speaking up for her, and instilling confidence. -
Back to School/Blue Topaz Quotes
"Fiona grins and gives me a wink as she moves to her assigned seat.
You can make it.
you can do this." -
Hope
After her coach shows her YouTube videos of people running with prostheses, Jessica starts having more hope in one day returning to the track, and for the first time since the accident, holds on to that dream. She also helps in a fundraiser her team started to raise money for her prostheses in the hopes that she would influence people to donate more money. -
Hope Quotes
"And then the camera pulls back and I see that there are two of these spiky padded pieces of curved metal and that they're attached to...legs.
It's a runner?
Yes.
A runner on curved, spiked feet.
I watch, my heart pounding.
He can run! He can run." -
Straightaway
After her hitting her headwind, going back to school, everything starts running more smoothly for Jessica and she's on her straightaway. In fact, her teammatess even start up a fundraiser to buy her a prosthetic running leg so she can be back on the track senior year. A girl in her math class, Rosa, also influence Jessica to think more positively and encourages her to hold onto her dreams. -
Straightaway Quotes
"I try to focus on walking. In one week I'll have a leg.
In one week I'll learn to walk again.
In one week.
I just know for me, running was like eating and breathing--it was something I had always done, and without it I felt mserable. Somehow I survived, but each breath was painful.
I was heady and happy and I could feel myself--a future me--running.
I want to hold on to that.
I want to believe." -
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Straightaway
Jessica becomes active in her track team again, going to meets and cheering people on. She also learns another aspect of teamwork when the track team starts a fundraiser to buy her a running leg. -
Gradual Steps
After receiving her prostheses, Jessica starts to take more gradual steps in her recovery and starts to have more ocnfidence in life one day returning to the normal it was before her accident. She feels a lot more confident as well as triumphant at being able to recover so fast. She's also victorious at being able to overcome such great adversity. -
Gradual Steps Quote
"And so I take my first step.
And my second step.
And my third.
The fake leg feels snug. Solid.
I take a deep breath, then loosen my grip on the bars. Two steps forward, my hands are hovering above the bars.
I take two more steps.
And two more.
Tears sting my eyes.
I'm walking." -
Adjusting the Blocks
Now that she can walk, life pretty much returns to normal for Jessica. She's able to continue most of the activities she engaged in before her accident, track excluded. Also, Jessica is still awaiting the day when she can get fitted for a running prostheic. She's adjusting the blocks and preparing for the beginning of a new and exciting race when she can finally run again. She still gets encouragement from Rosa and she still benefits greatly from the advice Rosa gives her." -
Adjusting the Blocks Quotes
"It's still dark outside. And then I get the feeling. The one I've kept buried for so long. I have to get up. Get out. Go.
Maybe I can do it, I tell myself. Not fast, not hard... but maybe I can run." -
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Adjusting the Blocks
Jessica receives her running leg and lives her running dream. -
Larger Steps
Jessica finally gets her prosthetic leg, and her feeling of hope and confidence that she'll get through this hard time is replaced with a feeling of exhilaration when she goes on her first run since the accident as well as a feeling of gratitude for everyone who helped her along the way. After her first run, Jessica finds that she's made so much progress in so little time by just taking everything step by step, from baby steps, to gradually larger steps, and then to large steps. -
Larger Steps Quotes
"...when I finally really push for the first time, something inside me clicks.
And bursts free.
I'm exhilarated. Terrified. Gaining speed. Sure to crash. So I am getting used to it, and I am gaining confidence, but I honestly don't know if I'll ever race again.
It almost doesn't matter, though.
I can run." -
Starting Line
Instead of this being the finish line to her incredibe journey, the end best represents the starting line because this whole experience is what made her believe that anything is possible with determination. After running the ten-mile River Run race while pushing Rosa along in her wheelchair, Jessica realizes as she crosses the finish line that instead of being a finish line, that was a starting line. She realizes how much she's learned from this experience and her capabilities. -
Starting Line Quotes
"But as we gather in Regatta Park and help ourselves to scrambled eggs, orange juice, and bagels, I realizes something.
That wasn't a finish line for me.
Eight months ago it was a herculean effort to walk myself and my IV stand to the bathroom.
Today I ran my friend ten miles across her first finish line.
Eight months ago I couldn't do anything.
This race has made me believe that there's nothing I can't do.
This is my new starting line." -
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Starting Line
Jessica trains for and runs the River Run while pushing Rosa along in a wheelchair. -
The Running Dream
Jessica finally is able, after such hard work and determination, to live her running dream in reality. -
The Running Dream Quotes
"I have the running dream again.
It's early morning. We come upon Aggery Bridge and I begin the long sprint across it. My legs and lungs burn, but I welcome this pain. It forges me with strength.
Determination.
Triumph.
This time there is no shock for me.
No jolt awake.
No tears.
This time, the running dream is real." -
The River Run Quotes
"One plus one plus one plus one.
And somewhere in my fuzzy mind I make a connection--that's how everything is done.
One by one by one by one
That's how I got through losing a leg.
My legs are lead. My arms ache.
Run strong, run strong, run strong....But I'm living step to step. I start counting them. Step by step by step by step.
I look up; look out. There's a red-and-white balloon arch only fifty yards ahead. I dig in, dig deep. And then, with a chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp, we've crossed over." -
The River Run
Jessica, not wanting Rosa, the one who helped her the most to get left behind, decides to have others recognize Rosa for who she is, not for her diability. She trains hard and decides to push her and her wheelchair in a ten-mile race, the River Run, also to help make Rosa's dream of running come true. Because she is helping someone else achieve their dreams, she feels prouder of herself and knows what it's like to give back to someone.
