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Afternoon sunlight bathes the colorful playground as Lilac lies on the mulch beneath the swing set, grimacing, while Gabby kneels beside her and Lilac reaches toward her back, the empty swing still swaying.
Lilac, gabby, and Emily laughed as they ran around the big, colorful playground. Lilac loved swinging the highest, her long black hair flying behind her. "Push me higher!" she called. Gabby giggled and pushed her. Suddenly, lilac lost her grip and fell from the swing. Her friends rushed to her side. "Are you okay?" Emily asked, worried. Lilac felt a sharp pain in her back and began to cry. Sadie, Lilac’s mom, hurried over and called for help.
Inside the ambulance glowing red and blue in late-day light, Lilac rests on a stretcher clutching Sadie’s hand, while a smiling paramedic secures straps beside stacked medical equipment.
An ambulance arrived quickly, its lights flashing. Sadie rode with Mia, holding her hand gently. "You’re so brave," Sadie reassured her. Mia squeezed Sadie’s hand, feeling scared but safe. Gabby, Lilac, and Emily waved from the playground. "We’ll see you soon!" they shouted. The paramedic smiled at Mia and promised they’d take good care of her. Mia tried to be brave as the ambulance sped away. The playground shrank out of sight. Soon, they reached the hospital.
In a softly lit hospital room, Lilac lies under white sheets studying bright drawings taped to the wall, as Sadie sits on the bedside chair telling a story and a kind nurse in pink scrubs adjusts the monitor.
Lilac lay in a soft bed with white sheets, feeling sleepy. Sadie stayed by her side, telling her silly stories to make her smile. Doctors and nurses came in to check on Lilac. "You’re very strong, lilac!" said the nurse. Lilac asked, "Will I be able to play with my friends again?" The nurse nodded kindly. "It might take time, but yes!" said Sadie. Lilac’s friends drew her bright pictures and sent them to her room. Lilac looked at her friends' drawings and felt braver. Hope warmed her heart.
Under warm evening lamplight, Katie the German Shepherd rests her paws on Lilac’s hospital mattress while Lilac pets her muzzle, and a kind nurse in pink scrubs stands by the door smiling with a clipboard.
The hospital became friendlier when a furry visitor arrived: Katie, a gentle German Shepherd service dog. Katie wagged her tail and nuzzled Lilac’s hand. "She likes you!" laughed the nurse. Lilac giggled as Katie gently licked her fingers. "Can she stay with me?" Lilac asked. "While you’re here, yes," said the nurse. Katie curled up next to lilac’s bed. Lilac felt much less alone with Katie beside her. Soon, lilac drifted off to sleep, feeling loved.
Morning sunlight streams into the hospital room as Lilac, propped in bed, beams at a tablet where her friends’ video plays, while Katie sits at her side wagging and Sadie holds the screen.
The next morning, Mia woke up with Katie still by her side. Sadie had a surprise—lots of messages from Gabby , and Emily. They sent a video of themselves waving and cheering, "We miss you, Lilac!" Lilac smiled at the screen and waved back. Katie barked happily. "I can’t wait to play with you again," Gabby said in the video. "We’re making you a welcome home card," added Emily. Lilac's heart felt full with all the love from her friends.
Mid-afternoon in the therapy room, Lilac strains upright from the hospital bed, guided by a gentle physical therapist in green scrubs, while Katie rests her head on Lilac’s lap, encouraging eyes gleaming.
That afternoon, the physical therapist visited Mia. "Let’s try sitting up together," she suggested gently. Katie stood close, encouraging Mia with warm eyes. Mia took a deep breath and tried. "You’re doing great!" Sadie cheered. Lilac and Gabby’s drawings smiled at her from the wall. Mia’s back hurt a little, but she didn’t give up. Katie rested her head on Mia’s lap in support. With each small step, Mia got a bit stronger.
Bright midday light floods the hospital entrance as Sadie pushes Mia’s wheelchair toward a waiting car, Katie trotting proudly beside, while nurses wave from the glass doors decorated with colorful paper stars.
Two days later, the hospital said Mia could go home. Everyone cheered! Sadie pushed Mia’s wheelchair while Katie walked proudly beside her. The nurses waved goodbye. "You’re our superstar, Mia!" they called. At home, Gabby, Lilac, and Emily waited with balloons. "You’re back!" they shouted, running to greet her. Mia felt so happy to see her friends again. Katie wagged her tail and barked with excitement. Home had never felt so good.
Under clear afternoon skies at the playground sandbox, Mia smiles from her wheelchair watching Gabby pat a sandcastle tower, while Katie bounds after a colorful ball rolling across the warm sand.
At the playground, the friends tried new games. They built castles in the sand so Mia could join from her chair. Gabby offered to push Mia slowly on the merry-go-round. Lilac handed Mia a colorful ball. "You can still play with us!" Emily said gently. Mia giggled as Katie chased the bouncing ball. "Thank you, everyone," Mia grinned. Her friends smiled and hugged her. Together, they made new memories with laughter and fun.
In the bright classroom morning, Mia parks her wheelchair before the chalkboard, Katie sitting attentively at her side, while the smiling teacher stands nearby, hand on Mia’s shoulder, as curious classmates watch from their desks.
At school, Mia’s classmates wondered about her wheelchair. Mia rolled to the front with Katie wagging beside her. "This is who I am now," Mia said bravely. Gabby, Lilac, and Emily stood by her. "She’s still our Mia!" said Lilac. Katie barked in agreement, making everyone laugh. The teacher smiled and patted Mia’s shoulder. "You inspire us all," she said. Everyone clapped for Mia’s courage. Mia felt proud and happy to be herself.
Beneath the big oak on a grassy hill at sunset, Mia sits in her wheelchair holding Gabby’s hand, Katie lying at their feet, as pink light filters through leaves and paints the peaceful scene.
After school, the friends gathered under their favorite tree. Katie lay at Mia’s feet, watching the clouds. "We love you just the way you are," Gabby said. "Me too!" agreed Lilac and Emily. Mia smiled and held her friends’ hands. With her friends and Katie, Mia knew she could handle anything. The sun set, turning the sky bright pink. They promised to always stick together. Friendship made Mia strong, now and forever.