Ashley had just finished stretching, when her coach walked over to her. “This is it, Ashley” he told her. “If you win this last race, St. Mary’s will take the state championship.” Then, Coach Thompson gave her a hug and went to find her seat to watch the race.
Ashley Drake was a senior at St. Mary’s High School in Milwaukee. During her four years at the school, she had set many records for long distance races. Her achievements had earned her, a four year Track scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, which was fortunate, because her parents couldn’t afford to send her to college.
The starter pistol sounded the start of the race, and Ashley shot out in front of the other runners, as fast as lightening. She loved running. It was the best way she knew to get rid of stress, and to think. When she ran, Ashley felt like she could achieve anything.
Ashley felt the sun on her face, and the wind blowing through her hair, as she ran. She thought of all of the wonderful memories from her four years at St. Mary’s. She also looked forward to the wonderful challenges and adventures that lay ahead of her at college in the fall.
Ashley reached the halfway point in the race, and she automatically increased her speed. Moments later, she heard another runner approaching. She knew better than to turn around and look, as it would cause her to slow her pace. She could sense the other runner right at her heals. For the next several minutes, she managed to stay ahead of her opponent. She could hear her challenger getting closer. With a sudden burst of adrenaline, Ashley began running faster. She saw the finish line up ahead. With a sudden burst of energy, she sprinted across the finish line, to win the race, and the track meet for her team.
That’s when it happened. As Ashley started to slow down, another runner crossed the finish line, and before she could stop, she ran into Ashley, knocking her over and landing on top of her. As Ashley fell to the ground, her right ankle twisted, and she was in excruciating pain.
As her teammates tried to help her to her feet, Ashley screamed out in agonizing pain, and fell back to the ground, grabbing her ankle.
Ashley was rushed, by ambulance to the hospital. After x-rays and a MRI of her ankle, Ashley and her parents were given the news, by the orthopedic surgeon. The prognosis was not good. Ashley had torn her Achilles tendon completely in half.
Eight hours later, Ashley was waking up in the recovery room, while her parents were given more bad news by the surgeon. He told them that even with the surgery, which was successful, and the months of physical therapy that lay ahead, Ashley would never be the runner that she used to be.
Ashley’s life began unraveling. She was just getting used to the fact that her racing days were over, when she received the letter from the University of Wisconsin, rescinding her scholarship. The letter stated that the scholarship committee was very sorry to hear about her accident, but that they needed to give the scholarship to someone who could help them win track meets. That meant that Ashley’s plans for college were put on hold indefinitely.
Over the next few weeks, Ashley was hit head-on with more bad news. Her boyfriend of a year and a half dumped her and her dog that she had raised from a puppy, died at the age of 12 years.
It was just too much for Ashley to take. She got into the family car, and went for a drive. She drove to the shore of Lake Michigan. When she arrived at Milwaukee Harbor, she parked the car and began walking along the lake shore. She was feeling very depressed. In a matter of just a few months, her entire life had fallen apart. As she stared at the waves crashing onto the shore, dark thoughts began creeping into her mind. She tried to push them away, but she became filled with a sense of hopelessness and despair.
It was at that very moment, when Ashley first saw the mysterious stranger standing near some trees about a hundred yards away from her. As Ashley stared, the stranger began walking towards her. The stranger was a woman about thirty years old. She said her name was Maggie Johnston. After Ashley introduced herself, the two women began to chat. As Ashley unloaded her troubles, Maggie listened. After Ashley was finished, Maggie hugged her and told her to focus on the good things in her life, instead of dwelling on the bad.