For the Love of the Game

01 (Keelin's POV)

The constant buzz of nonstop conversations from the stands have combined into one big wave of noise. The sun is burning into the back of my neck and thighs as if it is trying to become a part of me.

Strands of my hair have broken free from the pink prewrap previously holding them in place. My ponytail has loosened from the start of the match, and I can now feel the slight shift of weight on my head. I start to feel a bead of sweat slide down my neck...

*WHISTLE*

I'm broken out of my semi-dazed state and make a bee line towards an unmarked area on the field near the sideline. At the same time losing the defender who had unfortunately been attached to my hip since my goal in the 27th minute.

My right back, Margaret Simmons, throws the ball in. Like usual, it lands almost perfectly two steps ahead of me. It took months of training together to get to this point. Our team knows exactly where everyone will be. We are all in sync.

To my absolute luck the other teams center backs seem to be occupied and are nowhere to be found. Which creates the opportunity I have been waiting for. I have a clear path to the goal.

As if I have grown a sixth sense, I can feel the other teams defenders closing in behind me, threatening to end my chance at winning the game for my team.

The muscles in my legs are burning worse than ever, but they need to go faster. I can't let a chance like this, be ruined. My feet are chasing each other, going one in front of the other for what feels like an eternity.

Eventually I gain a much needed distance from the players trying to catch up to me. The wave of noise from the crowd has gotten louder.

I feed off of their excitement. Being the captain and starting striker for the Chicago Red Stars leaves me responsible for ensuring our fans have a good time, and of course can celebrate a win.

I finally reach a spot I know I can score from, right on the edge of the eighteen yard line. Time slows as I wind up my leg and shoot, while simultaneously lifting my head up to follow the ball.

It seems to have almost no spin on it. The ball slightly curves right mid air. There is no doubt in my mind that this ball will soon be touching the back of the net.

I'm pulled away from watching my game winning shot when moments after the ball leaves my foot, I catch a glimpse of something coming towards me from the left. I begin to turn my head to get a better look at the figure coming at me.

It all happened so fast. All I know is that I'm on the ground. I can hear the previous wave of noise from the crowd grow into a tsunami of celebration before the pain washes over me.

I should be celebrating my second goal of the game, but instead I'm shouting out in pain. I heard the dreaded pop come from my knee. The impact from my head hitting the ground makes me feel like I've been crushed, into the turf below me.

My teammates must have realized something was wrong since I feel the rush of air come over me as most of them run to my side. I see them all standing over me, angrily shoving away the opponent, who had run directly into me way after the ball had left my feet.

"Keelin what happened?" Rosa questions while kneeling down to be closer to me. She has the most worried look on her face.

I notice her dark brown eyes grow wide in realization as she glances from my hands gripping at my knee and back to my face.

"It's over," I say. "My season is over". I start to feel the tears pool up in my eyes. I won't let them fall. I am the leader of this team. I have to put on a brave face.

"Get the trainers out here," I hear someone yell. This was supposed to be my year. We were doing so well. I was doing so well. I just gave us the lead, and this is how I'm being rewarded.

This was going to finally be my chance to lead my team to the NWSL Championship.

Rosa places her hand on my face. In an attempt to give me some sort of comfort. The trainers arrive and just by the look on their faces I know I'm done for.

I can barely walk myself off the field with the help of two trainers. The crowd whoops and cheers for me, their captain who won the game, now being helped off the field.

I feel hopeless as I am placed on a cart to be brought back inside. Leaving behind a field full of sad faces as the darkness of the tunnel covers me.

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Hi guys!!! This is the first chapter of the story so it is a little short. Please bare with me. I promise chapters will get longer. Anyways thanks for reading. Any suggestions on how to improve my writing are always welcome.