I woke beneath harsh hospital lights, confused and disoriented. My leg was immobilized, and a nurse sat beside me, gently holding my hand. The pain made it impossible to ignore the seriousness of my injuries.

Dr. Reynolds soon arrived with the results. He explained that both my tibia and fibula had been fractured and that surgery would be necessary. The news was overwhelming, but it was only the beginning.

He also mentioned that law enforcement wanted to speak with me. For the moment, I declined. Before dealing with the police, I needed my family.

Using a borrowed phone, I called home. My mother immediately broke down in tears, while my father stayed calm and asked one simple question: what did I need?-