Sidelined

Althea, a highly successful track student, is forced to stop competing temporarily because of a serious injury to her legs. She begins going to physiotherapy sessions, hoping that she can recover fully in time for her next competition. In one of her physiotherapy sessions, Dr Lee, her physiotherapist, mentions that she might be able to run in the near future. Althea hangs on that hope, despite Dr Lee clarifying her running will not be up to competition standard. She becomes distant and closed off to her friends and family who try to support her, out of shame. Her mother tries to come in and comfort her, but she doesn’t reciprocate, choosing to instead do exercises Dr Lee had recommended to her. As Althea continues her physiotherapy sessions, she begins to become more friendly and open to Dr Lee, expressing her excitement for when she can recover. Finally, Dr Lee brings Althea to the beach to practise running. Despite her confidence, Althea has extreme difficulty completing the practice, with Dr Lee ending the exercise without as she keeps struggling to run. Later, Dr Lee visits a distraught Althea in her home, and comforts her by telling her that running isn’t everything. Althea internalises his advice, and decides to meet her track friends to say goodbye to the sport she loved. She packs up her trophies and medals in her room, ready to move on to other things, while still cherishing her past.

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