FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 54 :: You're not alone

The weight of the world felt like it was crushing Gavi. The constant barrage of questions, the accusatory whispers, the relentless scrutiny of the media, the suffocating pressure of the team's expectations - it all coalesced into a suffocating weight that threatened to drown him. He felt like he was constantly on the verge of breaking, his emotions a volatile mix of anger, fear, and despair.

One night, after a particularly brutal training session, Gavi found himself unable to sleep. He tossed and turned, his mind racing, his heart pounding, his body trembling with a mixture of anxiety and exhaustion. He felt a familiar tightness in his chest, a feeling of impending doom that had become his constant companion.

He knew he couldn't keep this bottled up any longer. He needed to talk to someone, to release the pressure that was building inside him, to find some semblance of relief from the torment that consumed him. He reached for his phone, his fingers trembling as he scrolled through his contacts. His eyes landed on a name that brought a wave of comfort, a beacon of hope in the darkness.

He called Ansu Fati, a teammate who had become more than just a teammate, a confidante, a brother in arms. Ansu, who had faced his own share of adversity, his own battles with pressure and expectation, understood the weight of Gavi's burden. He had seen Gavi at his best, his worst, and everything in between. He knew Gavi better than anyone.

As Gavi's voice cracked with emotion, he poured out his heart to Ansu. He confessed his fears, his insecurities, his doubts. He admitted his inability to cope with the pressure, the scrutiny, the relentless speculation. He spoke of the silence that had fallen between him and Pedri, the weight of their unspoken tension, the fear of losing his friend, his teammate, his brother in arms.

Ansu listened patiently, his voice a calming presence in the storm that raged inside Gavi. He offered words of comfort, reassurance, and understanding. He reminded Gavi of his strength, his resilience, his unwavering passion for the game. He urged Gavi to be kind to himself, to acknowledge his pain, to seek help if he needed it.

"It's okay to feel this way, Gavi," Ansu said, his voice filled with empathy. "You're not alone. We're all going through something. We all have our own battles to fight. But you're stronger than you think. You have the strength to overcome this."

Gavi, his voice choked with emotion, felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been carrying this burden alone for too long, his fear of judgment preventing him from reaching out for help. But now, with Ansu's support, he felt a glimmer of hope, a sense of validation, a feeling of being understood.

He realized that his breakdown wasn't a sign of weakness, but a sign of his strength, his courage to confront his pain, to acknowledge his vulnerability, to seek help. He knew that he still had a long way to go, that the road ahead would be challenging, but he also knew that he wasn't alone. He had Ansu, his family, his friends, and his team, all of whom loved and supported him. And that was enough.