Her Swimmer

Lionesses

The chill room at the England football camp buzzed with the sounds of relaxation. Lucy Bronze and her teammates were enjoying a brief respite, their laughter and chatter filling the space. Suddenly, Lucy's phone rang with Talia's name. Lucy answered immediately, her smile fading as she heard the distress in Talia's voice.

"Hey, Talia. What's wrong?" Lucy's voice was gentle but laced with concern.

Talia's voice was shaky. "Lucy, it's not safe here. The storm is so bad, and the swimming pool is closed. I don't know what to do."

Lucy's eyes narrowed, and she quickly picked up on the deeper concern. "Where's your dad?"

Talia's voice dropped. "He's here. He's looking for me."

Lucy's face tightened. She glanced at her teammates, who had started to notice the shift in her demeanour. "Okay, stay calm. What's he doing? How is he?"

The anxiety in Talia's voice was palpable, causing Lucy's teammates to grow increasingly worried. "He's drunk Lucy and he's banging on my door. I need to get out, but I don't know where to go."

Lucy's mind raced. "Have you called my mum? She might be able to help."

Talia's voice was strained. "I did, but she's not here. Remember?"

Lucy's frustration mounted. "Shit, yeah. Okay, look, stay in your room and make sure he can't get in. I'm coming to get you."

Talia's voice wavered. "But you're at camp, Lucy. You can't leave."

Lucy's determination was unwavering. "It's fine. I'll explain it. I'm coming. I'll get you out, don't worry, okay?"

"Okay," Talia said, her voice barely audible. The sound of her father's banging grew louder, and Lucy heard it through the phone.

"Don't let him in, Talia. Stay on the phone with me," Lucy urged.

Talia's fearful response was almost a whisper. "Okay."

Lucy quickly turned to her teammate Jordan. "Jordan, I need you to get Mark immediately. Tell him it's an emergency, and I need to leave right now. It's urgent."

As Lucy waited for Jordan to get in touch with the head coach, she heard a sudden, sharp scream from Talia's end of the line, followed by a loud shout from her father. The call abruptly cut off.

Panic surged through Lucy. She didn't wait for official permission. Without a second thought, she dashed out of the chill room, ignoring the concerned calls from her teammates. Her heart pounded as she made her way to the nearest exit, determined to get to Talia and ensure her safety, no matter what.

Lucy sped through the stormy night, the car's headlights cutting through the torrential rain. Her thoughts raced even faster than the vehicle as she navigated the slick streets towards Talia's house. She parked in front of the dimly lit, weather-beaten home, her heart pounding with anxiety.

As she approached the house, she hesitated between ringing the bell and calling Talia again. Deciding on the latter, Lucy dialled Talia's number with trembling fingers. The phone rang, and after a few tense moments, Talia's voice came through, breathless but resolute.

"Lucy?" Talia said quickly.

"I'm outside," Lucy responded urgently. "Bring some clothes. Do you need any help?"

Talia's response was clipped. "No, I can do it. I'll explain when I get down."

Before Lucy could ask more, the line went dead. Lucy's nerves were on edge as she waited, peering through the rain-splattered windshield. Suddenly, she saw Talia's figure appear at the window, struggling to climb out. Lucy's heart leapt into her throat.