The Running Dream

Jessica works with the hospital’s physical therapist, who teaches her a series of stretches and exercises that she will need to complete every day. The brief exercise exhausts her so much that she lies down on the bed and hopes the therapist will leave. A knock at the door reveals a surprise visit from Jessica’s best friend, Fiona, who is there at Jessica’s mother’s invitation.

Fiona gives Jessica a giant stuffed teddy bear, and Jessica is caught staring at her friend’s legs, thinking, “I never really realized how beautiful legs could be” (24). Fiona apologizes for wearing shorts and then bursts out crying and hugs Jessica. Fiona explains that she had tried to visit a few times before but was always turned away. Fiona doesn’t know what to say except that she misses Jessica and that she has been frightened for her friend.

When Jessica declares that she is “dying in here” (24), Fiona quickly corrects her by saying that she is thankful Jessica is alive. Lucy, another girl on the bus in the accident, was not so lucky. Jessica did not know about Lucy’s death, and this news causes her to have a flashback to the accident.