After training had ended and the team had dispersed, Uno and Denise walked back to Uno's apartment. The excitement of the day had died down, leaving a comfortable silence between them.
As they entered the apartment, Denise looked around and noticed a photo on a shelf. It was of a younger Uno with his parents, their faces stern and distant.
"Uno, I've never asked about your family before. You don't talk about them much," Denise said gently, taking a seat on the couch.
Uno sighed and joined her, looking at the photo with a mix of longing and resignation. "There's not much to say. My parents were always busy, caught up in their own world. I guess I learned to fend for myself pretty early on."
Denise reached out and took his hand. "That sounds really tough. How did you cope with all of that?"
"It wasn't easy," Uno admitted. "I threw myself into football. It was the one thing that made me feel alive, that gave me a purpose. But even then, there were times when I felt so alone. There were nights I'd just lie awake, wondering why they didn't seem to care."
Denise squeezed his hand. "You know, it's okay to feel that way. You've been through a lot. But you're not alone anymore, Uno. You have the team, and you have me."
Uno looked at her, his eyes softening. "Thanks, Denise. That means more than you know."
Denise smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, now that we're together, we'll make sure to fill this apartment with so many good memories that you'll forget the bad ones."
Uno chuckled softly. "That's a promise I'll hold you to."
As they settled in for the night, Denise couldn't help but notice how different Uno seemed when he talked about his past. It was as if a shadow fell over him, dimming his usual brightness. She wanted to help him find the light again.
"Uno, have you ever talked to anyone about how you feel? Like a counselor or something?" Denise asked cautiously.
"I've thought about it," Uno admitted. "But I always felt like I had to be strong. For the team, for everyone. I couldn't let them see me as weak."
"Talking about your feelings doesn't make you weak," Denise said firmly. "It makes you human. And it might help to get everything off your chest."
Uno nodded slowly. "Maybe you're right. I guess I've just been scared to face it all."
"You don't have to face it alone," Denise assured him. "I'll be here with you, every step of the way."
Uno looked at her, gratitude and affection in his eyes. "Thank you, Denise. For everything."
As they sat together, the weight of Uno's past seemed a little lighter, buoyed by the promise of a brighter future. And for the first time in a long time, Uno felt a glimmer of hope.
They sat in silence for a while, the soft glow of the evening light casting a warm hue over the room. Denise could see the inner turmoil in Uno's eyes and knew there was more he needed to share.
"Uno," she said softly, "you can tell me anything. I want to understand what you've been through."
Uno took a deep breath and looked down, his hands clasped together. "Denise, there were times when things got really dark for me. I felt so alone and worthless. Football was my only escape, but even that wasn't enough sometimes."
Denise listened intently, her heart aching for him. "What happened during those times, Uno?"
"There were nights when I just... couldn't take it anymore," Uno confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I thought about ending it all. I even tried a couple of times."
