How I Sapphire Young fell in love with Alessia Russo

Chapter 59

Sapphire's POV:

The days that followed the match blurred together in a haze of pain and uncertainty. My teammates had rallied around me, offering words of comfort and support as I grappled with the reality of my injury. Alessia had been my rock, her unwavering presence a source of strength in the midst of the chaos.

As the date of my surgery loomed closer, a sense of apprehension settled over me. The thought of going under the knife filled me with a deep-seated fear, but I knew that it was necessary if I ever hoped to regain full mobility in my knee.

On the morning of the surgery, I woke up with a knot of nerves in my stomach. Alessia was by my side, her hand warm in mine as we made our way to the hospital. The waiting room was filled with the hushed murmurs of other patients, their faces drawn with worry and anticipation.

I tried to focus on my breathing, to push aside the nagging doubts that threatened to consume me. But as the time drew nearer, the anxiety mounted, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.

When the nurse finally called my name, my heart leapt into my throat. Alessia squeezed my hand reassuringly, her eyes filled with determination. "You've got this, Sapphire," she whispered, her voice a steadying presence in the chaos.

The next few hours passed in a blur of activity. I was wheeled into the operating room, surrounded by a team of medical professionals clad in scrubs. The bright lights overhead made my head swim, and I fought to keep my nerves in check as the anaesthesia took hold.

When I woke up, the world was a haze of pain and confusion. My knee throbbed with every heartbeat, and I struggled to orient myself in the unfamiliar surroundings of the recovery room. Alessia was there, her face etched with concern as she brushed the hair from my forehead.

"How are you feeling?" she asked softly, her voice a balm to my frayed nerves.

I tried to muster a smile, but it faltered in the face of the pain that radiates through my body. "Like I got hit by a truck," I admitted, my voice hoarse with exhaustion.

Alessia chuckled softly, her fingers tracing patterns on the back of my hand. "You'll feel better once the anaesthesia wears off," she assured me. "Just take it easy for now."

But as the hours stretched into days, the reality of my situation began to sink in. The doctor had warned me that the road to recovery would be long and arduous, with months of physical therapy and rehabilitation ahead of me. And when I finally mustered the courage to ask about my prognosis, the news was worse than I could have imagined.

"Ten months," the doctor had said, his voice grave. "That's how long it will take for your knee to fully heal."

Ten months. The words echoed in my mind like a death knell, the weight of them settling over me like a suffocating blanket. Ten months without soccer, without the rush of adrenaline that came with stepping onto the field. Ten months of uncertainty and pain, stretching out before me like an endless expanse of darkness.

But as I lay in my hospital bed, staring up at the sterile ceiling above me, I knew that I couldn't let myself be consumed by despair. I had a long road ahead of me, but I was determined to face it head-on, with Alessia by my side every step of the way.

And as I drifted off to sleep, her hand warm in mine, I knew that together, we could overcome anything that life threw our way.

As we stepped through the threshold of our home, a sense of relief washed over me. The hospital stay had been draining, both physically and emotionally, and the familiarity of our surroundings provided a welcome respite from the sterile confines of the medical facility.

Alessia moved about the kitchen, her movements fluid and purposeful as she prepared a pot of tea. I sank into the nearest chair, the exhaustion of the past few days weighing heavily on my shoulders.

As Alessia joined me at the table, concern etched into the lines of her brow, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation that lay ahead.

"Alessia," I began, my voice tentative. "There's something I want to talk to you about."

She set the teapot down with a gentle clink, her gaze meeting mine with unwavering intensity. "Of course, Sapphire," she replied, her voice soft with concern. "What's on your mind?"

I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. But as I looked into her eyes, the love and support that shone in their depths gave me the courage to speak my truth.

"I've been thinking," I began, my voice steady despite the butterflies that danced in my stomach. "With this time off that I have, I think... I think it might be the perfect opportunity for us to start a family."

Alessia's eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting in astonishment. "Sapphire," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you sure?"

I nodded, a sense of determination settling over me. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life," I replied, my voice unwavering. "I know it won't be easy, but... but I want this, Alessia. I want us to have a child together."

A smile tugged at the corners of Alessia's lips, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I want that too, Sapphire," she said softly, her hand reaching out to cover mine. "More than anything."

With a sense of purpose burning bright within me, I reached for my phone, fingers trembling slightly as I dialled the number for the IVF clinic. After a brief conversation with the receptionist, we were informed that an appointment could be scheduled in just three days' time.

As I hung up the phone, a surge of excitement coursed through me. This was it. The first step on our journey to parenthood. And as I looked into Alessia's eyes, I knew that no matter what the future held, we would face it together, hand in hand.