P E R L A

O N E

EUFA WOMEN'S
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
FINAL

The score was 3-3, only 4 minutes left of extra time. The crowd stood tall as Perla ran with the ball. The sound of hopeful fans becoming louder as she got closer. She passed it to the left as a defender ran at her, running with the defender before stopping abruptly, allowing for a seemingly perfect assist of the ball back to
her. Rushing forward and with a swift motion, kicking the ball to the net.

Time fell still as the defender forcefully rushed into her. The ball approaching the corner of the net, and Perla fell.

GOOOOOAL!!

The noise of the crowd was now louder than ever. This was what they had worked so hard for over the past couple of months.

In all of Perla's time here, she had longed for the moment in which she would be able to hold that champions league title high in the air, but in this very moment Perla felt strange.

Her teammates rushed to her as she tried to stand, not feeling the agonizing pain in her knee until she shifted slightly, immediately falling straight down, laying on her back in pain , tears escaping her eyes as she put her hand up for help.

The cheering
slowly died, her teammates stood at her side as medical rushed to her aid. The pain seemingly only getting worse and in seconds Perla was rushed off the field. The moment gone.

•~~~•

Perla woke the next morning in a private medical room awaiting the doctor who had run some test on her. The TV in the room recapping the night she missed, watching as her team held the title high, all while the crowd roared with excitement.
The door opened and in walked her mother and her father.

"Ay mi amor, what happened?
estas bien?", her mother worriedly asked Perla holding her hand and leaving a kiss on her forehead.

"Hey princesas. Have the doctor's said anything?", her father asking standing beside her mother also holding his daughter's hand.

"I'm okay, I mean- I think- I don't know what happened. I was doing good, I was fine and then I fell and..it was awful. The doctor thinks I tore my ACL but, he ran some test and should be back any minute now."

The door opened again and in walked the doctor, her brother walking in behind him.

"Saul, Monica, good morning everyone. Perla how are you feeling?" the doctor asks Perla for the thousandth time as if maybe at some point her answer will change.

"Same. I don't feel much."

"that's really good, that means the antibiotics are working well and we won't have to worry about altering the medication, but on a less
positive note I have results and, unfortunately,  Perla, you have a torn ACL"

Perla takes a deep breath in and out as her mother strokes her head in comfort.

"How long do you think recovery will be?",Tobias asks the doctor as he takes a seat by the bed.

"Well first Perla would have to undergo surgery and if all goes well- "

"when all goes well", her mother chimes in with hopefulness.

"Right. When all goes well, we'll see how Perla feels and recovery will be a matter of how she takes the recovery process. In general, the process could take anywhere from six to nine months and maybe, but rarely, a year"

"a year!?", Perla enquires

"It's very rare Perla. I'm almost sure that for an athlete like you, with the right amount of physical therapy, rest, and perseverance, you'll be healed before you know it"

"right.", She answers dryly.

"I'm really sorry Perla but, in being a professional athlete, you have to know that these things can happen to anyone. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll send in the nurse to set up the surgery date and to answer any other questions you may have. You all have a nice day, I'll see you soon Perla", he walks out, leaving Perla with her family and her exhaustion.

"Mija it'll be okay, it's not that bad. Like you're doctor said, you'll be back before you know it", Her father tried to assured her,  but Perla was feeling more and more hopeless.

Why would this happen to Perla? Of all people and of all times, there was no way she was meant to recover. With every second spent here, she lost more and more time working her way up and the more she felt her career would plummet.

"Where's that nurse?"