She paused, turned her head toward the bleachers, and found me sitting near the center line.

She grinned, pointed down at her knee pads, and called out across the quiet gym floor.

“Look, Mom, I can jump without feeling a thing,” Grace said.

Coach Miller blew the whistle a second time.

Grace tossed the ball high into the air, arched her back smoothly, and jumped off the floor into the bright autumn sunlight streaming through the tall gym windows.

Her hand hit the ball with a sharp crack that echoed through the whole gym.

The ball cleared the net by four inches and landed deep in the back corner of the court with a firm thud.

Grace landed lightly on both feet, completely free of fear and pain, and turned back toward me, laughing.