Like Real People Do - Jill Roord

How Quickly Life Can Flip

Jill's POV

The scene was right in front of my seat so I had the direct view which was both a blessing and a curse. I knew it was good being able to see what was happening, at least then I knew whether to worry or not. But the expression of agony on Hunter's face told me I should definitely be worrying. 

Immediately, Alexia and Mapi ran to Hunter's side, bending down next to her. Alexia held Hunter's shoulders still so she wouldn't roll and injure herself further, I could see her whispering comforting words, trying to console her seemingly inconsolable sister. 

Ona ran over to them all, shoving the Swiss defender away, I could even hear her yells, "You've done enough! Fuck off!"

Lia rushed up from midfield, joining Hunter on the ground, I saw her take her hand also trying to calm Hunter down. Though nothing seemed to help and it was painful to watch, I almost wanted to pull my eyes away but I couldn't. I watched intently, hoping to see her suddenly get to her feet and run it off. 

The moment slowed down and even then, I had no choice other to stand in the stadium and wait, paying attention to every last detail so I could decipher the potential injury at hand. 
I felt my heart pace picking up, my fingers fiddling together, my stomach dropped almost as if I was being drowned. 

Hunter had to be okay. She just had to be.

From the expression of those around her though, she was far from okay. 
I could see Alexia trying to smile but even from this distance, I could see the fear in her eyes. The fear for her younger sister. Hunter's head was in Alexia's lap as she ran her fingers across her hair, trying to provide comfort in a situation overwhelmed with stress.

The medical team were quickly over, though I couldn't hear anything nor see much due to the sort of barrier they'd created around her. Though I could see they weren't even attempting to stand Hunter up which was a bad sign.

I could still see half of her body rolling slightly, and it was breaking my heart that only a barrier was diving us yet I couldn't go and comfort her. I just wanted to hold her hand and assure her that everything would be okay.
In my mind I was still thinking of her as 'my girl', I wanted to help her because I felt we were somehow connected. Somehow my heart was falling and it had fallen right into the hands of Hunter Putellas. 

It was crazy how quickly life can flip; two minutes ago Hunter had been on the way to scoring a hattrick for Spain and now she could be looking at months away from the game she loved. 

From the moment she's gone down, I knew something was seriously wrong because Hunter didn't dive, especially when she had a shot on goal. Hunter was the player to jump up and argue with the referee, she'd never stayed down for this long before and that fact terrified me. 

The referee sent the Swiss defender off, giving them a deserved red card which they didn't argue with. As I watched them storm off the pitch, I saw the medics bring on the stretcher and my heart dropped.
Of course, I deep down knew they'd need a stretcher but seeing it, meant it was real. 

I looked up to the sky for a brief moment, praying someone up there would send us a miracle and turn this into some minor injury which was easily walked off. 

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Hunter's POV

It was agony. Mentally and physically. 

"Mi amor, you're going to be okay," Mapi hushed, holding on to one of my hands. 

I so badly wanted to roll over and bury my face in the grass and just scream until my throat was red and raw, but Alexia had a firm hold of me, making sure I wouldn't move. I didn't know what had happened but I knew it was bad, I'd felt something tear which was never a good sign.