started as a lie

17

it's game day against chelsea.

a tough one but we're confident.

we walked out and got into our positions.

from the minute we kicked off, things weren't going our way. we couldn't keep possession of the ball. most of the action happened in our half. chelsea had about 4 shots on target though none of them went in.

in the last minute of the first half, sam kerr got a goal.

we went back into the changing rooms. jonas lectured us and told us to get our heads in the game.

we went back out and played again.

it looked like leah was having a bad game. she didn't time her tackles well and kept misplacing passes. and on top of that, she was getting frustrated with herself.

around the 58th minute, we finally got a chance. frida passed me the ball and i ran towards the goal. i was through, until the two centre backs sandwiched me between them. then someone else came behind me and pushed me over.

the ref blew the whistle and pointed at the spot. penalty.

but i couldn't get up.

i lay, hyperventilating.

i cant breathe.

the medics rushed on and checked to see what happened.

leah was by my side, holding my hand and telling me to breathe. that wasn't really helping.

they put me on oxygen and stretchered me off the pitch.

as we were going down the tunnel i heard a roar from the crowd.

kim buried that penalty. we're level.

they did lots of checks on me but didn't find anything. i must have just had the air knocked from my lungs from the barge.

i went back out and sat on the bench with the subs.

we're in stoppage time now.

chelsea are on the attack.

guro crossed it in. it hit off leah's foot and went in. the final whistle blew.

no

the chelsea players celebrated. leah was on the floor with her hands over her face.

some of the girls were comforting her.

i went over to her, slowly as i still struggled with my breath.

i sat her up and hugged her tightly.

"that was not your fault" i said.

"yes it was. i literally kicked it in" she said.

"how have i done that" she said.

"baby it's okay. we win together we lose together" i said trying to make it better.

"yeah and i made us lose" she said sadly.

we got up and walked around the pitch, thanking the fans.

"what did the medics say happened to you" leah asked.

"nothing. they couldn't find anything" i said. "must have just been a loss of breath"

we went and got in the car and drove home.

we got showered and in some comfortable clothes.

i made us dinner and we ate it. i tried to make conversation but leah just shut down my attempts with one word answers.