About different things, about his country, about the sea, about life. «Emily, I understand you’re lonely, but this man—he’s not from our world, he has a different level of education, a different culture.» «You mean he’s worse than us because he has no money?» «No, but…» «Dad, over the last twelve years you’ve spent millions of dollars on the world’s best doctors.
Result? None. And this man at least doesn’t look at me as a hopeless case.» William was struck by this outburst of emotions.
He hadn’t seen his daughter so alive in a long time. «What do you mean?» «He looks at me as a person, not as a diagnosis. He doesn’t tell me to accept it.
He doesn’t even pity me.» That night Emily couldn’t sleep for a long time. The conversation with her father made her think about many things.
«Really, why was she so drawn to Ramon?» «Maybe because he was the first person in many years who didn’t see her only as a disabled person.» The next day she went to the marina again. Ramon was working by a small pool with seawater, where they tested diving equipment.
«Ramon,» she said, approaching closer, «can I ask you a personal question.» «Of course, senorita. Have you ever worked with people who had problems like mine?» Ramon straightened up and looked at her seriously.
«Yes. Several times.» «And what?» One guy fell from a cliff into the sea, injured his back.
Doctors in the city said he would never walk. His mother brought him to me. «And what did you do?» Ramon worked with his body in warm seawater.
Hydromassage, seaweed wraps, breathing exercises to the sound of the surf. But mainly, worked with his fear. «What fear?» He feared disappointing his parents.
He feared he couldn’t help his father with fishing nets. He feared the girl he liked wouldn’t want to be friends with him. Fear paralyzed him more than the injury.
«And what happened?» In a few months he walked. First with crutches, then without. Now he’s working as a fisherman again.
Emily felt her heart beat faster. «But this… this is different. His injury probably wasn’t as serious.
Maybe. Or maybe he just really wanted to return to the sea.» These words echoed in Emily’s head all week. Did she want to live? Truly live, not just exist.
For the first time in many years, she honestly asked herself this question. Her reflection was interrupted by an unexpected proposal. «Senorita Emily,» Ramon said during one of their meetings.
«If you don’t mind, I could try working with your legs in the water. No guarantees, just try.» Emily froze.
The proposal was so unexpected that she didn’t know what to answer. «You… are you serious?» «Very serious. But I understand if you don’t want to.»
«No, doctor, here I have no right.» «And what exactly do you propose?» «Hydrotherapy in a warm pool with seawater. Seaweed wraps.
Breathing practices to the sound of the surf. Nothing dangerous, I promise.» Emily was silent for a long time.
On one hand, it sounded absurd. The world’s best doctors had declared her case hopeless, and here some folk healer offers help. On the other hand, what did she have to lose? «Okay,» she finally said.
«But no one should know, especially my father.» «Of course, it will be our secret.» They agreed to meet in the old spa pavilion, which was in the far part of the private beach estate.
Once it was a relaxation area with a pool of heated seawater and massage rooms, but after Emily’s injury, the pavilion was abandoned. The first session was scheduled for the next day. Emily arrived there early in the morning, when other workers hadn’t started their duties yet.
Her heart was beating so hard that she feared Ramon might hear it. The pavilion was in better condition than she remembered. Ramon had clearly spent time preparing it….
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