May had coloured nature a bright green, and in the middle of it all Hannah was lying on her back on the soft meadow next to the terrace of her parents' house. Her dark blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail, but individual strands had come loose and were dancing in the wind. With a smile, she lifted her legs into the air, stretched them, bent them, let her feet circle. Gymnastics - at least one form of it. Her left foot moved nimbly, while her right leg was encased in a pink plaster cast. A friend had drawn a cheerful smiley face on the plaster.

It had been her little sign of hope. After all, the plaster was a wrap around a broken ankle that had caused her a lot of patience and discomfort a few weeks ago. She still remembered the moment when she had taken an unfortunate step and fallen. The throbbing pain had taken her breath away and the first few days after the accident had been a challenge.

The crutches were initially her biggest obstacle. They were uncomfortable at first and made every movement an effort. Sometimes she was annoyed by her dependence on them. But by now they had become part of her routine. She had learnt how to walk elegantly with them, how to control her speed without losing her balance.

Hannah wasn't one to let a setback get her down. For her, her plaster cast was not a sign of limitation, but a supporter of healing - and that you could enjoy the beauty of a warm spring morning even with a broken ankle.

"Are you celebrating spring with exercise?" called a voice from the terrace. Hannah turned her head to the side and saw her little sister Emma leaning against the balustrade, grinning. "Of course! Exercise is part of spring, even if my right foot doesn't quite join in," laughed Hannah.

Her sister came closer and lay down on the grass with her. "I bet your leg heals faster when you're moving like that!" Hannah shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe it will. Or maybe it heals so quickly because I can't stop smiling."

Emma felt quite sorry for her big sister at first. The moment when Hannah had fallen had been terrifying for Emma - she had seen Hannah's face contort in pain and didn't know how she could help. But over time, her view of the situation had changed.

She admired the way Hannah dealt with the injury. At first, Emma had thought that a broken ankle would ruin the spring, all the fun they'd had together, all the light-heartedness. But Hannah showed her otherwise. She didn't let it get her down. She made the best of the situation, finding ways to move around and have fun despite the restrictions.

Emma's thoughts about her sister's injury were now full of respect. She no longer just saw the plaster cast and the limitations, but the strength behind it. For her, Hannah was someone who proved that enjoying life doesn't depend on perfect circumstances. And every time she looked at the pink plaster cast with the cheerful smiley face, she realised that even a broken leg could smile - just like its owner.

They lay there together, arms folded behind their heads, gazing at the sky, where only a few white clouds drifted lazily by. The day was perfect, despite the cast.