Right now, I am the talk of the town. Every news article is about me.
It's partly exciting, I mean, every soccer player dreams about having their names written in the stars. To play professionally, for the national team.
I'm sitting at the airport waiting for my plane to board. I'm flying out from Chicago, near my school. I go to boarding school, where I'm currently on scholarship.
My boarding zone is called but I wait till after most people have boarded, savoring my time in the open space before I am cramped into a small seat. Last flight I was on, the guy next to me smelled like BO. That wasn't fun for the 5 hour flight.
I downloaded a couple shows, mostly soccer ones (my attempt to get in the mood for camp) but I doubt I'll even watch them since I like to read on flights.
The flight was only 4 hours from Chicago to San Diego. I am so, so excited to be in the Wave's stadium. It'll be my third time playing in a professional stadium, my first and second time being the state and national championship for high school.
As I sit in the terminal, my mind drifts between excitement and the nerves that accompany it. It still feels surreal— flying out to join the USWNT camp. Only a few years ago, I was just another kid with dreams, and now I'm boarding a plane to play in a professional stadium.
I finally rise from my seat, grab my bag, and head toward the gate. The flight attendant greets me with a smile as I step onto the plane, and I feel a flutter in my chest. I take my seat, tuck my bag beneath the chair in front of me, and settle in . As the plane begins to taxi, I close my eyes, letting the hum of the engines wash over me. This is my new start.
•••
I don't know what I was saying then I said "only" 4 hours, 4 hours straight on a plane is straight hell.
My legs are cramping up, the air is dry, and the boredom is already creeping in. Thankfully, the guy next to me isn't as bad as last time, but he's clogging up the arm-rest and I'm contemplating elbowing him. I scroll through Netflix, hoping to have a show catch my eyes. When that obviously doesn't work, I move onto my book.
I glance out the window, hoping the view will offer some distraction. The clouds stretched endlessly, like a blanket below me, and for a minute, it almost seemed calming. Then I remembered where I was headed. The thought of heading into the locker room, seeing my name one a jersey— it's everything I've ever worked for. Soon I'll be there.
YOU ARE READING
CHANGE- uswnt
Fanficnoun 1. the act or instance of making or becoming different. Madeline Reese was only 15 when the call up to the senior national team came, and would be a lie to say no one expected it.
