The cab driver noticed she was crying and curiously asked, “What is wrong my dear, why are you crying?”

She was startled by the drivers deep tone and said, “Oh, nothing.”

The driver asked, “Are you sure?”

Renée was really disturbed by the driver asking her what was wrong and she said, “Yes, I am sure.”

Finally the cab pulled up to her house and Renée got out of the cab and hobbled to the front door of her house. Walking was very painful because she could feel a bone out of place in her knee. Renée was almost in tears because it hurt so much. She finally arrived at the door and opened it slowly, as in not to startle anybody. Phew, she thought, nobody was home. Renée went to her room and fell asleep right away on her bed.

“Renée are you home yet,” her mother called from the living room when she arrived home from work. No answer came from Renée. Her mom walked around the house to make sure that Renée really was not home. She walked into Renée’s room and found her there sleeping. She thought that Renée must have had a rough day at practice and needed rest so she just let her lay there and sleep.

Later in the day Renée woke up and felt horrible. Everything ached, especially her knee. To make things even worse, she felt sick to her stomach.

“Mum, hurry I need you. Mum,” she yelled for her mother. Renèe could not even move. She started to panic. Sweat poured off of her head and she looked very pale.

“Honey, I am here what is the matter,” her mother asked when she ran frantically into the room.

“Mum, I do not know what is really wrong with me. Everything aches and I feel sick to my stomach,” Renée said in complete panic to her mother, “I do not think I can even move.”

Her mother thought and thought of what to do but she was completely useless. “Do you need to go to the hospital,” she finally asked. “No, mum I already went before I got home because I hurt my knee in practice. They told me that I needed surgery but I know we cannot afford it,” she replied “Oh, honey I am so sorry. You know we do not have enough money for a hospital bill. I already work two jobs as it is,” her mom answered her in complete sympathy. Renée told her mom that it was okay that she could not get the surgery and that she would just have to try to heal her knee on her own time. Renée exercised and worked on getting her knee healed up. It took about six months but she was finally able to play again. At her first game back a scout for a university team was there watching her. After the game he walked up to her and told her that she did a great job and he would like her to play for his team.

She packed her bags and headed for the university on a sunny and warm day in July. When she got there she was so amazed at how large the university was. She saw pictures but they never looked s good as the university really was. She thought to herself, what a perfect day to play rugby.

She did not know what was about to happen.

She was going to her apartment in the town after her first day of practice and a drunk driver going 90 miles per hour hit the cab. Luckily Renèe only suffered from injuries and did not die.

Renée was told that she was paralyzed. Her whole world fell apart. She would never get to play rugby again. Her family would keep suffering from their lack of money. Now she had to find a new passion.