La Reina | The Story of Melanie Kavitz

pre-game

I didn't get to spend much time with the men after they returned from their last international friendly. They were shipped back to their clubs, and I had to remain on the training grounds as I didn't have a home to necessarily go back to.

Which lead to the agreement between Bradley, Sunil and I that I would stay in Chicago. I would be able to stay in a rented home for the time being, train on home grounds, and would be called for every international line-up unless there were extenuating circumstances. I also was approved to go back to Seattle to see my family every month - a luxury given to me due to the unusual circumstances I had been in.

I kept hoping all of it would be temporary. I hoped I would be able to find a club, a city, and a place to call home. A place to bring my family to. A place to grow, and learn, and win. The thought of instability never sat well with me throughout my life, but these were the circumstances. The circumstances I would have to deal with until the day they decide to change.

As for public reception - nothing had changed. Bradley kept warning me not to turn on the news, but I had reached a breaking point. It didn't matter what the news outlet was; liberal, conservative, American, South American, European - they all had come to a consensus.

The U.S. men's national team were out of their minds.

There has to be some clause against this!

I honestly have no idea what the Federation was thinking. I mean, girls don't belong on that field!

This is the greatest disgrace to the sport in recent memory! Only America could've been responsible for this catastrophe!

This girl will get beaten up, kicked around, and destroyed on the pitch, and then she'll understand why girls aren't allowed to play football! If that's what she needs in order for her to learn, then she can be my guest.

Leo and I hadn't talked much since the day of our Facebook exchange. He was still in the middle of his Spanish and European campaign (in which he had been absolutely dominating in), and I didn't make the effort to reach out unless it had been an absolute, dire emergency.

But on that occasion, hearing every word spoken across the world continuously berating me, I couldn't help it. I had to ring him.

I'm such an idiot, Leo! Bradley told me not to turn on the news, but I didn't listen to him! Why didn't I listen to him?!

Melanie, you have to calm down. I need you to breathe. The last thing you want is a panic attack.

My breath was staggering, but after a few moments, air went into and out of my lungs smoothly, and I felt my body relaxing to the calming pattern. After taking another moment to remain my composure, I sat on the edge of my bed.

Thanks. I needed that.

I know you did.

I couldn't help but laugh.

Mel, I suppose you already know this story, but I want you to hear it from me.

I immediately became more alert as soon as he said that.

I was eleven years-old when I found out about my growth hormone deficiency.

I almost deflated; he was right - I knew all about it and it was one of the more heartbreaking stories I had heard in a long time, especially given how young he had been.

I had a lot of people against me - believing I wouldn't do anything with my life. My family was paying almost a hundred thousand pesos a month for my treatment. But I kept playing. I never once thought to stop, or let that obstacle get the best of me.