At the beginning of March, I injured my right knee. No big deal, I thought, but then unexpected complications arose. The inflammation was getting more and more painful, movement was getting more and more difficult, but I decided to go to the meeting of the literary society in Celje.
The weather that day was quite pleasant, but a bit windy. I hesitated whether I should go at all. Finally, I decided that I could not miss the meeting. There are times when you have to pull yourself together and just go on, no matter what obstacles life throws at you.
When I arrived in Celje, I parked my car in a car park near the theatre. Every step was painful. I had to hold on to buildings to get to the Celje Kulturnica, which I loved so much, because it is something special; stories, songs and all kinds of ideas. I was ashamed. Passers-by probably thought I was drunk. By the time I got to the door, I was pretty exhausted, but I told myself that I could do it. Just an hour and a half to two hours of meeting, a few exchanges of thoughts, and it would pass.
I found a corner in the back of the room. Sitting down was not a big problem for me. The pain was there, but bearable. As I talked with other members of the Society, I sometimes forgot about the problems that had been with me and delved into the topics that had inspired me.
When I wanted to get up to leave, I encountered a serious problem. I could not stand on my right foot. My knee was swollen and painful. Any attempt to move it caused me unbearable pain. I felt helpless. It was like being in a foreign world.
Until then, I had always been healthy. I didn't know what it was like to feel such pain in your knee when you have to get on your feet. I was all confused.
That's when I realised the true power of friendship and help. My friend Barbara Jelen watched what was happening and decided to help me without a second thought. She said to me, "You know what, I'll go get my car and take you to yours." It took her a while to come back. I don't know how I would have got to my car without her kind help. I didn't know how to thank her enough.
I was touched. I wanted to cry. While I was thanking her, she said to me, "Just a little!" and smiled at me.
The day I drove to Celje with my injured knee, I experienced physical pain, but I also remembered the best things life has to offer: friendship and mutual support. In the spring of 2018, I realised how precious it is to have someone by our side who does not leave us alone when we are helpless and in need. I learned about the true selfless friendship and kindness of my friend Barbara.
Justina Strašek
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