USWNT & NWSL One-Shot Collection

$$ - H.S - Moments

POV: Old Man

I couldn't seem to get comfortable, when I noticed someone coming up to the bridge. My heart sank as I watched her shoulders hunched in a way that spoke volumes. I got up and followed the woman, wondering if she would actually do what I thought she was going to do. She made her way to the middle of the bridge, staring out at the water.

The woman, her long black hair flowing behind her, spotted me and quickly dug for some change in her pockets. I looked down, ashamed that her only thought about me was that I was begging for money.

"You know... I haven't always been this way..." I said softly, my voice a whisper in the wind. She heard me, as she looked at me with pain in her eyes. "I've had my moments... days in the sun. Moments where I was second to none. Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do." She seemed enthralled, so I continued. "Like that plane ride, coming home from the war, or that summer my son was born. Memories like a coat so warm that a cold wind can't get through." I stepped closer to her. "Looking at me now, you might not know it, but I've had my moments."

She turned to face the water once more, as if trying to find the nerve to actually go through with what brought her out here. I could see the question in her eyes. 'Would anyone actually care at all, or miss her when she's gone.'

I stood by, just wanting to be a presence for her, offering what little comfort I could. I recognized the look in her eyes, and she seemed to understand that I did. She looked down ashamed.

"You know... I haven't always been this way. I've had my moments, days in the sun

Moments, I was second to none. Moments, when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do." She echoed my words, before starting her own story. "Like the day I walked away from the wine, for a woman who became my wife and a love that, when it was right, could always see me through." She faced me once more. "Lookin' at me now, you might not know it... But I've had my moments."

She sniffled, wiped her face and nodded to me. A Silent thank you, as she headed back down the bridge and disappeared into the night. I went back to my sleeping area and it didn't take long before I fell asleep.

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POV: Hope Solo

Three months later, I was sitting in an interview remembering that night on the E Street Bridge. The old man didn't talk much, but him just being there was more than enough. He kept me alive that night and I think about him often.

"I know that somewhere 'round a trashcan fire tonight, that old man tells his story one more time." I spoke softly, the interviewer quiet. "He says 'I've had my moments, days in the sun. Moments I was second to none. Moments, when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do. Like that cool Night on the E. Street Bridge, when that young woman almost ended it. I was right there, wasn't scared a bit, and I helped to pull her through.' Looking at him now, you might not know it, but he had his moments."

I fell silent, staring at my hands. I had never spoken about what happened on that walk that night. Not to my wife, not to my teammates, not to my therapist. I had only spoken to that old man. I knew what he meant by moments now.

"I've had my moments..."

"Hope, are you saying what I think you are?" Kelley's voice breaks the silence.

I flinched a bit at my wife's voice, not looking at her. I held my head up a bit higher and took a breath. "I went out that night three months ago, to end it all. To escape the critics, the pressure, the temptation to relapse. Instead I found a reason to keep going. More Moments. Moments with my family, moments with my team."

I felt Kelley's arms wrap around my shoulders from behind, as I looked at the interviewer.

"I've had my moments... and thanks to that old man... I'll have many more."

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A/N: I went a little Depresso Espresso.... My bad. Also its super short. Again... sorry. 

Word Count:  749