You drafted my heart - Nika Mühl (Eng. version)

Chapter 15 - Lasagna

POV - NIKA MÜHL

08:56 PM - April 6, 2022

Storrs, Connecticut

The week seemed to drag on, each day longer than the one before. I felt a constant weight on my chest, as if time were conspiring against me, stretching every minute to the point of being almost unbearable.

Classes became a blur of information I could barely process, and practices left me exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

During practices, I tried to focus on my breathing, the rhythm of my feet hitting the floor, my hands, and the bounce of the ball, but my mind always drifted back to Olivia. I found myself thinking about the way she smiled, her contagious laughter, and how time flew when we were together and, paradoxically, how it seemed to drag when we were apart.

Now, time felt like a slow and deliberate torture.

Even with the distance, I felt a deep connection with Olivia. We made it a point to sleep on FaceTime calls almost every night. It was our way of feeling close, even through a screen. She would tell me about her day, talking about classes and how she was doing with the whole physiotherapy and rehabilitation process, and I would do the same, mostly complaining about how Geno was still killing us in practice even though the season was over. Other times, we would just stay silent, enjoying each other's virtual presence.

One of those nights, after a particularly exhausting day, Olivia seemed worried. I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling while listening to her voice on the other side of the call.

"Niki... Babe, are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft and clearly concerned. "You seem tired."

I sighed, feeling the exhaustion pulling me down. "I am a bit. This week has been tough. It feels like it's never-ending, only two days to the weekend and you still haven't come back to Providence..."

Olivia smiled, that smile that made my heart race. "We're almost there, love. Soon, we'll be able to see each other, my flight is tomorrow morning. Try to focus on that, okay?"

I smiled back, even though she couldn't see it. "I know. I just miss you. Sometimes, it feels like this is all too much to handle."

She sighed, a sound full of empathy and understanding. "I miss you too, Nika. But we're in this together. And soon we'll be able to be with each other again."

Those moments with Olivia were what kept me sane. She had a way of making me feel safe and loved, even from a distance. In class, I found myself staring out the window, daydreaming about the weekend that never seemed to arrive, when I could finally see her.

During practices, the memory of her touch and her scent gave me strength to keep going. I remembered how she encouraged me, even if just in thought. "You got this, Niki!!" she would say. "I believe in you!!"

The days dragged on, but each small step I took was a victory. And at night, when I cuddled under the covers with my phone, ready for our call, it was all worth it. Hearing her breathe on the other end, knowing she was there with me, even virtually, made it all worth it.

"Mühl?" Olivia's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "I love you, you know that right?"

I smiled, feeling a warm comfort in my chest. "I love you too, Olie. So much."

Slowly, each day became more bearable. Because, in the end, I knew she was there, waiting for me, just as I was waiting for her. And that was all I needed to keep going.

Then the long-awaited weekend finally arrived, and I was overflowing with excitement. After much convincing and promising to treat her most prized possession with care, Paige lent me her car so I could drive to Providence. Before I left, she gave me a serious look, but with a playful smile on her lips.