lover boy

Chapter 46

Jude Bellingham

The drive to the hospital felt heavier than usual. It wasn't the usual pre-match nerves or the pressure that came with being a professional footballer. No, today was different. My mind was tangled up in knots, the kind that didn't loosen easily. Today, I was headed to the hospital to meet a young girl named Mia. Her only wish? To meet me in person.

It wasn't the first time I'd done something like this, visiting a fan in the hospital, but every time, it tugged at something deep inside me. Especially when it was a kid like Mia—someone who loved football just as much as I did but had to fight battles far tougher than any match on the pitch.

When I arrived, the staff greeted me with warm smiles, guiding me through the maze of sterile corridors to the pediatric oncology ward. The walls were adorned with bright, colorful paintings—an attempt to soften the harsh reality of the place. But there was something in the air, a quiet resilience that clung to everything. It was humbling, grounding.

I took a deep breath as I stepped into Mia's room.

She was tiny, lying in that bed with tubes and wires all around her, but her smile... her smile could light up a whole stadium. Her eyes widened the moment she saw me, and despite everything she was hooked up to, she lit up like I was the best thing that had happened to her in weeks. Maybe I was. That thought hit hard.

"Hi, Mia," I said softly, approaching her bedside. "I'm Jude."

She giggled, her cheeks flushing with excitement. "I know who you are!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. "You're my favorite player. I watch all your games. I even have your jersey!"

I couldn't help but grin. "That's amazing. You must be a huge football fan, huh?"

She nodded so eagerly I was worried she'd knock her IV out. "I want to be a footballer too, just like you. But... well..." Her voice trailed off as she glanced down at the IV in her arm, and her smile faltered. My heart clenched. She was so young to be dealing with something like this.

I knelt beside her bed, making sure our eyes were level. "You're already a footballer, Mia," I said, my voice firm. "You've got the heart of one, and that's what really matters. The rest? That'll come. I promise."

Her eyes sparkled with tears, but she blinked them away quickly, her smile returning. "Do you really think so? That I could still play one day?"

I nodded without hesitation. "I know so. And when you do, I'll be right there cheering you on. Deal?"

Her smile widened, and she held out her tiny hand for a shake. "Deal."

We spent the next few minutes talking about football—her favorite players, her dream of playing for the England women's team, and even the snacks she liked to eat after training. I listened to every word like nothing else in the world mattered. For that moment, nothing else did. It was just me and this brave little girl with a dream that deserved to come true.

When it was time for me to go, I stood up reluctantly, promising to send her a signed jersey. Mia's eyes followed me as I walked toward the door, her smile still intact but tinged with a hint of sadness now. I gave her one last wave before stepping out into the hallway.

But as I made my way toward the exit, something caught my eye—or rather, "someone". I froze. For a split second, I could've sworn I saw Cecilia walking down the corridor. Her hair, the way she moved... it was all so familiar. My breath caught in my throat.

Was it really her?

I took a step forward, ready to call out her name, but she turned a corner before I could make a sound. My feet felt like they were glued to the floor. Should I go after her? Was it even her, or was my mind just playing tricks on me? I hadn't seen her since that night on the rooftop, and now, here I was, seeing her in a hospital of all places? It didn't make sense.