Monday, 10.27pm
Exactly one week ago, I broke my ankle while on a sailing trip in the Whitsundays. My orthopaedic surgeon would go on to tell me that "you did a good job of breaking it". I spent the next couple of days after that incident being loaded up with morphine (and throwing up because of it), undergoing surgery and being bed ridden in a hospital in Mackay.
Up till a week ago, the only surgery I had undergone was LASIK eye surgery. It was over in 10 mins and hardly felt any pain.
Fixing up my ankle however was a little more tricky. While the pain can be dealt with with painkillers and anaesthetic, it was the moments spent on your back staring at the ceiling while the nurses wheel you to pre-op that scared me, especially if no one who knows you is around. While I was travelling with my housemate Silvia who was extremely supportive and held my hand throughout the whole ordeal, she hasn't known me long enough to intrinsically know who I am at my very core.
I am now back in Melbourne. Work flew someone up to Mackay to get and accompany me on my flight back to Melbourne. My mom has also flown in from Singapore to take care of me and I have been receiving a steady stream of visitors who come with flowers, books, DVDs, oysters (a favourite of mine) and mostly, their company.
If anything, I realise now that I do consider Melbourne home. I am incredibly grateful for the supportive network of work mates and friends I have in Melbourne. And as I have always known, I am incredibly lucky to have family who will always be there for me unconditionally.
I have turned a corner recently, with my thoughts and perspective on work, life, health and love. A subtle shift that is imperceptible to most but one that has been reaffirmed with the recent spate of events (and travels). And for now, everything feels tranquil and I am surer of myself than I have ever been.
"I wish you shelter from the storm
A cozy fire to keep you warm
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love"
- I wish you love, Rachel Yamagata