The room was dead silent, normally I enjoy the peace sometimes but this time just couldn't, the only sound that filled the room was the soft hum of the camera equipment and the gentle murmur of the crew setting the mood. I adjusted my seat slightly, the weight of the interview settling on my shoulders. It wasn't the first time I'd been in front of a camera, but this one felt different. This time, I was here to talk about the accident, the injury that put me out of football for 9 months, my recovery after the injury, and the people who helped me through it all.
The interviewer, a woman with a kind smile and warm eyes, leaned forward slightly, signaling that we were about to begin. "Thank you for being here today, (Y/n). I know this journey hasn't been easy, and we really appreciate you sharing your story with us."
I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "Of course. I'm happy to talk about it. If my story can help someone else going through a tough time, then it's worth it. I guess you could say it's one of my jobs as a footballer, especially when the sport is growing and gaining recognition."
She smiled again, then glanced down at her notes. "Let's start at the beginning. You tore your ACL mid-game, a nightmare for any athlete, especially women in all sports such as football being 8 times more likely to tear it than a man. Can you walk us through that moment?"
My mind immediately went back to that day, the snap, the pop, the pain, the fear. I could almost feel it all over again. "It was surreal," I began, my voice steady but tinged with emotion. "One second I was going to get the ball, trying to help set up a goal, and the next, everything just... stopped. The stadium went quiet, everything blurred and the pain was immediate, and I knew something was wrong, I heard the pop and thought, this is happening to me just like it has so many others. It's like your worst fears come true. It felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. In that moment, all I could think was, 'This can't be happening. This isn't real, I need to wake up.'"
The interviewer nodded empathetically. "That must have been incredibly difficult. But what really stands out about your recovery is the support system you had around you. Can you tell us about the people who helped you get through it?"
A sad smile crept onto my face as I thought about the incredible people who had been there for me. "Honestly, I wouldn't be where I am today without them. My best friend, Poppy, was a huge part of my recovery. From day one, she was by my side, from when I actually tore it, to my surgery to when I started the physio, cheering me on, pushing me when I needed it, and holding me up when I felt like giving up."
"Tell us more about Poppy. How did she help you through the toughest moments?"
I laughed softly, the memories of our time together during my recovery flooding back. "Poppy has always an incredible teammate, one you could count on for anything - positive, energetic, and stubborn in the best way. When I first got injured, I was devastated. The surgery, the rehab, the thought of being off the pitch for months, it was overwhelming to say the least. Poppy didn't let me drown in self-pity, instead she would sit there and walk me through every step of what would happen such a before the surgery when I was nervous. She was there every day, reminding me that I was able to train and make the comeback that I felt like I needed to make, the comeback the fans deserved."
I paused, gathering my thoughts "There was this one time, a few weeks after my surgery, when I was really struggling. The pain was intense, overwhelming, and I felt like I wasn't making any progress. I was on the verge of giving up, so early too. But Poppy came over with a bunch of sticky notes. She spent hours writing little motivational messages and sticking them all around my apartment—on the fridge, the mirror, my crutches, everywhere. Things like 'You've got this,' 'One step at a time,' and 'Remember why you started.' It sounds silly, but those notes were exactly what I needed. Every time I wanted to quit, I'd see one of those notes, and it would give me the strength to keep going. Especially when you're going through such a difficult time."
The interviewer smiled warmly. "That's such a beautiful gesture. It sounds like Poppy really knew how to lift your spirits."
"She did," I agreed. "And it wasn't just the notes. She came to every physical therapy session she could, and celebrated even the smallest victories. I guess thats her super power and she just knows when you need help, when your feeling down and I think everyone on the team would agree with me when I say that if your feeling down Poppy's the one to go to."
"And beyond Poppy, who else was part of your support system during that time?"
I took a deep breath, thinking of all the people who had been there for me. "The team in general, and my family of course. My family was all there when they could, and the team was there the entire time. They for the emotional side of things, helping me stay positive even when I felt like I was losing everything or when I just didn't have motivation to keep doing the rehab. The team also helped keep me involved, made sure I didn't feel isolated, and sent me messages constantly. And of course, the medical team and my coaches played a huge role. They pushed me to work hard in rehab and believed in my ability to come back stronger."
The interviewer leaned in, clearly moved by my story. "It sounds like you had an incredible group of people around you. How did their support impact your recovery?"
"It made all the difference," I said, my voice full of conviction. "Recovering from an injury like this isn't just about the physical process. It's a mental battle, too. When you start running again your terrified because all you can think is 'what if it happens again' and there were days when I didn't think I could do it, when the pain and frustration felt like too much. But knowing I had Poppy, my family, my teammates, and everyone else in my corner—that keeps a person going as you want to make them proud. They reminded me of my strength when I couldn't see it myself."
The interviewer gave me a moment before asking, "Now that you're back on the pitch, how has this experience changed you?"
I thought for a moment, considering her question. "It's made me appreciate everything so much more. Before the injury, I took a lot for granted, my health, my career, even my friendships. Going through this made me realize how important those things are, and how lucky I am to have such amazing people in my life. I'm more determined now, more focused, and I've learned that I'm stronger than I ever knew. But most of all, I've learned that it's okay to lean on others, that you don't have to go through tough times alone. I guess Mary was right, there is light at the end of the tunnel."
The interviewer nodded. "Thank you for sharing your story, (Y/n/n). I am sure that many others around the world will hear this and find it inspiring."
I smiled. "Thank you for giving me the chance to share it. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that we all need help sometimes, and that's okay. I wouldn't have made it without the people around me, and I'm grateful for them every day."
The interview wrapped up shortly after, and as the cameras were turned off, I felt a wave of relief and gratitude wash over me. One, for explaining everything that I went through and everything that happened, the second being that the interview was over.
