From Deep End to Surface and Everything In Between (Sebastian Vettel FanFic)

Wood Anniversary

The countdown had begun the moment they had stepped into Japanese soil. When Scar was finally calm enough, she lifted her head from her knees and looked at Bob with scared eyes, afraid to say her thoughts aloud. Bob scanned her face before he said: 'There we go', he gave an encouraging smile when her blue orbs turned into a lighter shade, and partial sparkle returned to them. 'Light at the tunnel.' She pushed herself up, and Bob saw a flash of determination past her eyes. 'Let's do this.' She pulled her goggles down before she jumped back into the pool and continued where she left off, ignoring the trembling feeling in her muscles.

Bob shook his head, eyes poured into her, looking at her technique like a hawk, trying to spot the imperfections that could prevent her from better results. She wasn't ready to discuss the next steps yet, and the rest of the practice was finished with an unspoken promise to keep her head down and carry on. When she climbed out of the pool, she had a clearer mind.

However, she felt hesitant to say it out loud to Bob. 'Bob, is Emily around?'

'She should be somewhere here...'

'Could you ask her to meet me at the cafe nearby after the session? We have some catching up to do.' A knowing shimmer appeared in his eyes. 'Sure, thing. I'll give her a call shortly.' She nodded before she headed to the dressing room to get ready for a yoga session.

Scar felt restless when she later made her way towards the cafe, hoping Emily had already made her appearance there by then. Her feelings swam from side to side, drifting endlessly towards the decision that she wasn't ready to say aloud just yet. However, it had been decided for her by everyone around her. Emily waved to her next to a wall-length window that created a soft light around the table and surfaces nearby, highlighting Emily's short blond hair. 'What was so important that it couldn't wait until Monday?' Emily raised her eyebrows, waiting for a reason why she had been called to a meeting on a weekend whilst she kept sipping her coffee. Scar had painted this moment in her sleep endlessly. The dream was vividly a nightmare in her sleep rather than a sweet, naive fantasy she would have preferred. All the versions had been different, with the same outcome; her retirement announcement on the horizon. Before she managed to chicken out, she took a deep breath and said the words she had feared to say aloud.

'I retire after the Olympics.' Emily nodded, looking understanding, yet a questionable look played in her eyes. 'Okay, sort of makes sense. It will be a bomb to everyone, but not something that can't be managed. First things first, I need to sort out your sponsorship matters, amend the contracts if needed.' Emily started to ramble on the next steps, whom to contact in the press, how the announcement would be handled etc. 'After the Olympics.' Emily looked puzzled. 'I want to announce after the Olympics. I want to enjoy the last games without the press craziness, please.' Scar looked outside of the window. 'Why?' Emily's voice was sliced with authority and demand, shifting the power balance over to Emily. It gave her an upper hand in the situation when Scar trembled to gather her thoughts on how to break the news.

'My shoulder is unfixable, related to high stress in practice. It's muscle damage that can't be fixed with surgery or rehabilitation. Once the arm can't handle things anymore, the tissue may break, causing damage to the nerve system. In the worst-case scenario, I couldn't use the arm anymore. Hence, I can't practice at a professional level anymore.' Every time she spoke about the topic, She felt vulnerable. The anger returned in her as she was beyond frustrated with the situation.

Emily nodded at Scar's words. 'Miserable situation, Scarlette. I'm sorry. Positively, luckily you were able to swing this long before you were forced to quit. If you're ready for a positive twist.' Emily's words stunned her. They were simple yet effective enough to boost her mood towards the happier side. Emily was right, as this could have happened years ago. She was already categorised as a more seasoned swimmer by her age. Realistically, her career could have continued a couple of years. Then, either she would have had enough, or another type of injury could have prevented her from continuing her profession.