As I entered Jonas's office, the weight of his disappointment hung heavy in the air, stifling any hope of a reprieve. His gaze bore into me, a silent accusation that I couldn't bear to meet.
"Eva, this is becoming a pattern," he began, his voice tinged with frustration. "You can't keep showing up late to training. It's not fair to the team."
His words stung, cutting deeper than I cared to admit. But instead of acknowledging my mistake, I felt a surge of anger rising within me, hot and uncontrollable.
"What do you want from me, Jonas?" I snapped, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "I'm doing my best out there, but it's never enough for you, is it?"
Jonas's expression hardened, his disappointment giving way to a steely resolve. "I want you to take your responsibilities seriously, Eva," he replied, his voice firm and unwavering. "You're a talented player, but talent alone won't get you far if you don't put in the work."
His words cut me to the core, a painful reminder of everything I had been trying so desperately to avoid. And in that moment, I couldn't bear to face the truth, that I was letting down not only myself, but everyone who believed in me.
With a surge of frustration, I pushed myself away from the desk, the chair scraping against the floor as I rose to my feet. "Kick me out then! I don't care!" I shouted, the words echoing in the small office as I stormed towards the door.
Leah was waiting in the hallway, her eyes wide with surprise as she watched me pass. "What are you looking at?" I snapped, my anger bubbling over as I pushed past her, unable to face the disappointment in her gaze.
And as I stormed away, the weight of my actions settled over me like a heavy blanket, suffocating me with the realization that I was pushing away the one person who mattered most. But for now, all I could do was retreat into the safety of my own anger, hiding behind it like a shield against the pain of facing the truth.
I realized with a sinking feeling that I had burned bridges everywhere I turned. I couldn't go back to my mum's house, not after snapping at her earlier this morning. And returning to the apartment was out of the question, it was too soon to face Leah, to confront the hurt and disappointment I had caused.
So, with nowhere else to turn, I found myself wandering the streets, the cold night air biting at my skin like a thousand tiny needles. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of my actions pressing down on me like a leaden weight.
As I walked, the darkness closed in around me, wrapping me in its embrace like a suffocating shroud. I shivered, my teeth chattering with the cold, but I couldn't bring myself to care. All I could think about was the mess I had made, the bridges I had burned, and the loneliness that threatened to consume me whole.
As the first light of dawn began to filter through the trees, I stirred on the uncomfortable bench where I had spent the night. My body ached with the cold, and every movement sent a sharp pang of discomfort through me. But as I blinked away the remnants of sleep, I knew that I couldn't hide from my problems any longer.
With a heavy heart, I made my way back to the apartment, my steps slow and unsteady. As I entered, Leah's worried gaze met mine, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I knew I had to face her, to confront the mess I had made, but the thought filled me with dread.
Leah's voice broke through my thoughts, pure concern shining in her eyes. "Eva, are you okay?" she asked, her words laced with worry.
I wanted to brush off her concern, to pretend like everything was fine, but the truth was I felt anything but. "I'm fine," I replied weakly, my voice barely above a whisper.
But as I turned away to get a glass of water, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, and before I could react, my vision blurred and my legs gave out beneath me. I collapsed to the floor, the world spinning wildly around me as darkness closed in.
In that moment, as I lay there, helpless and vulnerable, I realized that I couldn't keep running from my problems. I needed help, and I needed it now. And as darkness claimed me once more, I prayed that it wasn't too late to make things right, to salvage what was left of the mess I had made.
Leah's pov:
As Eva collapsed before me, a surge of panic washed over me, but instinct kicked in, and I swiftly dialed for an ambulance. My voice trembled as I relayed the urgency of the situation to the emergency dispatcher, every second feeling like an eternity as we waited for help to arrive.
Once the ambulance arrived, I rode with Eva to the hospital, my heart pounding with worry the entire way. Seeing her lying there, unconscious and vulnerable, filled me with a sense of dread unlike anything I had ever felt before.
Hours passed in a blur as we waited anxiously for any news of Eva's condition. My mind raced with a million questions, each more terrifying than the last, but there were no answers to be found, only the cold, unyielding silence of the hospital corridors.
And then, finally, a glimmer of hope as Eva stirred, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine. Relief washed over me like a tidal wave as I watched her gaze drift to the figure standing beside me, her mum, her expression filled with concern and love.
Relief flooded through me like a warm embrace. But that relief quickly turned to concern as I watched her panic set in. "No, no, no," she repeated, her voice thick with fear as she tried to sit up.
I reached out to steady her, my hand gently pressing against her shoulder, but she shrugged me off, her movements frantic and uncontrolled. "Eva, please, you need to calm down," I urged, my voice tinged with desperation.
Her mum moved to intervene, her expression filled with worry, but before she could reach Eva, the doctor rushed into the room, his presence commanding attention. "Woah, Eva, calm down, it's okay," he said, his voice calm and reassuring as he moved to restrain her.
But Eva's panic only seemed to escalate, her breathing quickening and her movements growing more erratic by the second. It was clear that she was in distress, and my heart ached with the knowledge that there was nothing I could do to ease her suffering.
As the doctor worked to calm her down, I felt a surge of helplessness wash over me. All I could do was stand by and watch as Eva struggled against the invisible forces that held her captive, praying that she would find the strength to overcome them and emerge victorious on the other side.
As Eva's panic began to subside, I felt a sense of relief wash over me like a soothing balm. The doctor's reassurance helped to calm her, his gentle words a comforting presence in the midst of the chaos.
But as Eva begged to go home, the doctor's expression grew solemn. "I'm sorry, Eva, but we need to keep you here for observation," he explained gently, his tone firm but compassionate.
Eva's plea was met with a resolute refusal, and my heart ached for her as I watched the disappointment cloud her features. But before she could protest further, the doctor began asking her questions, his voice gentle but probing.
With each question, Eva's gaze flicked nervously to her mum, her worry evident in every line of her face. But when the doctor posed the question about where she had slept last night, I saw her hesitate, her expression pained.
"Eva?" the doctor urged gently, his voice coaxing her to speak.
Finally, Eva's voice broke the silence, her words barely above a whisper. "A park," she replied quietly, her admission hanging heavy in the air like a leaden weight.
Her mum's gasp echoed through the room, her eyes filled with tears as she turned away, unable to meet Eva's gaze. And as the reality of Eva's situation sank in, I felt a surge of empathy wash over me, a silent acknowledgment of the pain and turmoil that lay beneath the surface.
