For the Love of the Game

03 (Keelin's POV)

1 week later

I woke up today thinking I would be ready to face physical therapy for the first time. I guess I still can't believe that I'll be out for the rest of the season. It feels unreal to me. 

My best friend Kelsey, is currently driving me to a facility that my team requires I go to. It is supposedly one of the best physical therapy clinics in the United States. A lot of big-shot athletes have graced the place with their presence.

I feel pissed the entire drive to the clinic. Only responding to Kelsey's attempts to start a conversation with short answers.

She pulls up to the main entrance, gets out, and grabs my crutches out of the backseat. I feel like a child; I have to be helped to do the most simple things. I hobble my way through the quite fancy physical therapy building, until I stumble upon the room I am supposed to go to.

I press the gray button with the wheelchair on it, that is next to the door. With the help of my crutches I make my way over to the check in desk and then go sit down. 

A few minutes later, I got called, and directed back into a giant space. Filled with all sorts of machines and tools to help stretch and strengthen people.

I follow my physical therapist to a bed-like exam table where I am told to sit.

"My name is Dr. Yu-Simmons, why don't you run me through what happened?" The doctor asks. I explain to her how my season ending injury happened. "I see, and according to your chart it's been about a week since your acl surgery", she says in a question-like tone.

"Yep, a week today", I respond back.

"Well it also looks like you suffered a minor concussion. So we won't do too much today besides get some measurements, okay", Dr. Yu-Simmons states. She starts to move my left leg around and tells me to let her know when it hurts, so she can stop. It takes about thirty minutes of torture before she is done measuring me. 

I look over towards the doorway and see a tall man wearing black athletic shorts and a gray shirt walk in. He turns his head towards me, and for a brief second his eyes meet mine. He then continues following his physical therapist to another bed-like exam area.

He feels so familiar, like I should know who he is. But he could just have one of those faces.

Dr. Yu-Simmons, who insists I call her Jen, hands me a piece of paper with instructions on the exercises she wants me to do at home. 

I call Kelsey to let her know I am done and make my way outside. When I get there she helps me into the car, and we start to drive off.

"So how was it?" Kelsey asks.

"It was fine. Hurt like a bitch though", I complain.

"I'm sorry, that sucks. When you were inside" she pauses, "Stefan called me again. I swear if you don't tell him to leave you alone for good, I am going to lose it", she says while making a left turn.

Stefan and I have a history. We dated in college for a while, and ever since then he's been stuck to me like a wet t-shirt. Sure, it was partly my fault for entertaining him for a few months last year, but since then, I have made my intentions clear. We had fun while it lasted, but it's over.

"You know I already told him we were done", I say back to my friend. Annoyed at the fact she thinks I'm keeping him around on purpose. 

"Well he clearly doesn't know that. You shouldn't have fucked around with him again", she turns to me and gives me a look.

"Did you just slut-shame me?" I ask with a fake offended face.

"Yes," Kelsey responds back before laughing. She pulls into the driveway of my house and helps me get my crutches before walking me to my front door. "I'll be at your house on Thursday at 3:15, text you later babe", she reminds me before walking back to her car and driving off.

My doberman pinscher, Kiki, rushes over to me as soon as I make it inside. She acts like I've been gone for years every time I come home. She eventually calms down, and I pull out my phone from my purse, and scroll through my missed notifications. A text from Rosa appears and I click on it.

Rosa: Hey Keels just checking in on you. I could really use some advice if you have a sec?

Rosa: Coach Anderstof was losing his shit at practice today and I don't know what to do. The girls are so pissed I swear they are messing up on purpose and Blake doesn't know how to be a captain to save her life.

Me: Just calm down Rosa. Anderstof is only being a dick cause the team isn't flowing together like it usually does. Give it a week. It'll work itself out. Blake isn't used to the leader role cut her some slack. 

I don't think it will work itself out at all. Anderstof was used to having me be on the field to direct the players. I'm worried, really worried. 

I continue to scroll through my missed texts when Stefan's name appears. I choose to ignore all of his messages. I can't deal with him and his unhealthy obsession with us being together. 

I sit down on my couch and turn on the TV. ESPN is on and before I change the channel I see a picture of a man in a Cubs uniform on the screen. He looks oddly familiar. The headline on the bottom reads Cubs Star First Baseman Out on Injury.

I never cared for baseball, the only time I ever watched it was with my dad when I was little. He refused to turn anything else on when his team was playing. A sudden wave of sadness comes over me thinking back on those memories. I quickly change the channel and decide to put on a movie.

My phone lights up once more but I decide to ignore it. I'm not in the mood to talk to anybody else today. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey guys, thanks for reading. 

Feel free to share any tips on how to improve the story.