ny115+Difficult+Choices


 * N.Y. **
 * 9/27/12 **
 * Periods:7/8 **
 * __Difficult Choices Story__ **

//** All is Fair in Love and War **//


 * "Hey mom, I'm heading out to the beach to go surfing. See ya at noon!" Bethany shouted, grabbing her surfboard and a piece of toast. This is the voice of Bethany Hamilton, the living miracle before her traumatizing experience. Before being challenged with a difficult choice: either quit surfing or work at it pushing herself to be at the top. **


 * " I welcome everyone to the Surfing Semi-Nationals and especially our surfers! We will be revealing the results in a half hour!" Anne Nouncer, the famous announcer for surfing competitions shouted. **


 * "Eeeeeehhhhhh!!" Bethany and her best friend, Alana squealed, jumping up and down. **


 * "Do you think I did well?" Alana asked anxiously, suddenly looking very serious compared to the happy girl she was a moment ago. **


 * "Of course you did. You definitely placed in the top three." Bethany smiled. **


 * "Aww, you're the best. I know we'll make the Nationals for sure now." Alana replied, both of them walking toward the podium where they will or will not be holding trophies that prove they'll be going to the Nationals. **


 * "Hello I am Ann Nouncer and here are the results! The first place winner is..." Ann paused for effect, smiling a mischievous grin, "BETHANY HAMILTON!!!!" **


 * " I'M GOING TO NATIONALS!!!!" Bethany screamed hugging Alana tightly. Shortly after this moment, these two happy girls found out Alana was second. So happy. So naive about the trauma that will change there lives forever. **


 * "Come on!" Bethany beckoned Alana towards the clear blue-green water. They were in their third week of training, with Nationals only five months away. It was a beautiful day for surfing. The waves were just the right size, their was a slight sea breeze, and the sun was shining above them. Bethany dove in, followed by Alana, Alana's brother, and Alana's dad. Two hours later, Alana and Bethany were lying on their boards, in the water, both of their arms dangled out next to them. Bethany swayed her arm, and suddenly a shark came up a bit her arm off! Alana screamed and began to tow Bethany towards the shore. Bethany leaned heavily against the board, swimming one armed against the current. When they reached the shore, Bethany rolled over and began to breathe heavily. Before she knew it, she was in an ambulance, red spots dotting her vision. She then blacked out. **


 * When Bethany woke up again she was in a hospital gown in a hospital bed. All she could see were millions of flowers around her. She reached over and felt the space where her arm should have been. She sighed. Life is tough when you know you only have one arm. **


 * "Bethany," her mom called out in a singsong voice, knocking gently on the door frame. **


 * "Come in," she replied weakly, getting into an upright position. **


 * "We need to talk," her mom said sadly, sitting on the edge of Bethany's bed. **


 * "Shoot," Bethany replied, an eager look on her face. **


 * "Your father and I have been thinking, and we think that it's up to you if you want to continue surfing and competing at Nationals. It'll be hard, and we want you to know we understand if you say no. We want to help you get through this, and we can always start over with a new sport. So think about it, okay?" Her mom left the room, gently closing the door behind her. Quit surfing? Her mom was paranoid! But the more Bethany thought about it, the more doubtful she grew. How will she duck under the waves? And standing up on her board? It almost seemed impossible. Bethany knew she has lost more than 60% of her blood and it will not be easy. But she has been itching to get in the water and missed that tingly feeling she got when she was on the beach. She missed the thrill of catching a good wave. Most of all, she missed the warm, flickery bit that ignites inside when she sees her family and friends around her, encouraging her on. Bethany took a deep breath. She knew this was a difficult choice to make. It was this difficult choice that will change her life. **

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