The Secret - Alexia Putellas

3.

Thank you Eliza!!!

She can't sleep.

Those words were replaying inside Erin's head over and over again. She wondered what the issue was. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but the second her lips part to speak up, she realized that Alexia was already gone.

She can't sleep.

Those words bothered Erin.

But before she could give the athlete's confession another thought, her next patient, Mapi, strolls into the room without knocking, immediately making her way towards the therapy bench.

"Good morning to you, too", Erin chuckles when she notices the defenders arrival. Mapi takes off her shoes before taking a seat on the therapy bench.

"Hola, Erin! How's your first day?", Mapi wonders, a bright smile on her face, but the blonde barely noticed.

"What?", Erin asks, her head intentionally turning towards the door, as her mind once again wanders back to that Barcelona captain.

"I wondered how your first day is going? Are you getting along with everyone?", Mapi shrugs, studying the therapist's face as the blonde walks over to wash her hands, following her usual routine before starting the treatment.

"Sure. I'm still... trying to get to know everyone. Some are surprisingly quiet", Erin nods as she dries off her hands, eyes meeting Mapis for a second.

"Quiet? Why do I have the feeling you're talking about Ale?", Mapi asks, laying down on her stomach so that Erin could treat the back of her legs.

"She's not quiet. It's just... I think I pictured her different", Erin shrugs, not wanting to tell Mapi about the confession Alexia had just made.

The captain probably wouldn't want that.

Mapi rests her head on her forearms, facing the ground, and tries to relax as she feels Erin's hands working on her right calf.

"Usually she is different. Even though Ale is a shy person, she is one of the loveliest and most honest people I know. She's a great captain. And an even better friend...", Mapi explains.

"I heard she's acting strange lately", Erin pushes, searching for more information. She couldn't help but wonder if Alexia had told anyone else about her sleep issues.

"Very strange... we're all kind of worried about her. She won't talk anyone, though", the defender sighs.

Erin pauses for a moment, unsure what to say next. Thankfully, Mapi speaks up again.

"I just hope that whatever she's going through will end soon. I can't take seeing her like this for much longer", Mapi mumbles sadly, flinching as Erin finds a trigger point on her calf.

Why did Alexia only tell her?

"I'm sure that whatever it is, she'll work it out", Erin smiles, not sure if she wanted to convince Mapi or herself. She felt bad for lying. But she didn't want Alexia to be mad at her for telling anyone.

"I hope you're right", Mapi groans, her hands balling into fists as Erin increases the pressure on the tense spot.

"Relax", the blonde chuckles, pressing the trigger point for a few more seconds, before releasing Mapi's calf.

"Ingrid and I are throwing a small party this weekend at our apartment. The girls are coming over after the match. Do you wanna join us?", the Spanish player suggests.