Rediscovering You

twenty-three

29th April 2023 - one year and thirteen weeks old.

The moments between the final whistle blowing and her finally being able to wrap her arms tightly around Imogen feel like a blur. She feels the brunette tense slightly before her entire body relaxes against the blonde, her face tucking into the crook of the blonde's neck.

'We were so close.' Imogen almost whispers and Leah can hear the hurt in her voice.

'We done everything we could, Ims. Not one person on that pitch could've done anymore than they did. It hurts now but you should be so proud of yourself.' Leah says softly, her hand running up and down Imogen's back as the other cradles the back of her neck.

'Laura...' Imogen says, her head flying off the blonde's shoulder as she almost frantically glances around the pitch looking for the injured defender.

'She's okay... Well relatively okay. We're pretty sure it's her ACL but she's in good spirits. She's here somewhere.' Leah replies.

'Fuck.' Imogen almost whispers and Leah nods her head.

'I know. It's not great... She's over there with Stina, why don't you go see her? I'll catch up with you in a bit.' Leah suggests and the brunette glances over at Laura before back to Leah.

'I'm fine... I'll catch up with you.' Leah adds and Imogen nods her head.

'I love you.' Imogen says softly causing Leah to smile.

'I love you too... Now dry those eyes, pretty girl.' Leah replies, reaching up to gently wipe the brunette's cheeks with her thumbs causing Imogen to laugh. She watches the brunette walk off in the direction of the two other women before she turns to go console the rest of her teammates who are all understandably heartbroken. They've been plagued by injuries this year but she'd be lying if she said she hadn't began to believe that maybe this was their year to make to the final.

****

'You okay?' Beth asks softly, her arms wrapping around the blonde who sighs softly and drops her head to rest on her shoulder.

'Mm... I got the date for my surgery.' Leah replies quietly.

'You did? When is it?' Beth asks as she pulls back slightly to look at Leah.

'11th of May...' Leah replies and Beth nods her head.

'I know the doctors will go through the process with you and tell you everything that happens but if you want me to, I can come over and tell you everything on a more human level and not a doctor level.' Beth offers.

'Mm-hmm... That would be good, Beth. They kept saying all this medical jargon and I know they have to tell me exactly what they're going to do but I just- I think it'll be better to hear from someone who has been through it, you know?' Leah says and Beth nods her head.

'The medical jargon all just sounds that bit more scarier, doesn't it?' Beth says and Leah bites her bottom lip as she nods her head.

'They were going over the risks the other day and I just- It's terrifying, Beth. For a moment I almost considered whether I could get away with not getting it done if I gave up football.' Leah admits.

'Really?' Beth asks and the blonde nods her head.

'It was just me being silly. I was scared, I am scared but I know I need to get it done. I know it makes sense to just get it over and done with.' Leah replies.

'Have you got someone who is going to come stay with you after the surgery? Your mum, Alex, Imogen?' Beth asks.

'Wally is going to stay with me. I don't want to put that pressure on Imogen, not when everything is still so new.' Leah replies and Beth nods her head.

'That sounds like a good idea.' Beth says smiling slightly.

'What about Laura? What's going to happen with her?' Leah asks.

'She'll move in with Viv and I. We've spoken about it and we think it just makes sense. We know what she's about to go through, what you're both about to go through.' Beth replies and Leah nods her head.

'That's good. At least she'll be safe.' Leah says softly.

****

'Do you want me to speak to Jonas? See if I can get the day off training when you have your surgery?' Imogen suggests softly, her fingers running through the blonde's hair as they lie in bed. Lia has gone back to her own place tonight, to sleep in her own bed and water her plants to let Imogen stay over for the first time since they properly got back together.

'No, it's okay. Ots is going to take me and then Al will pick me up and bring me home... You and Wally can both go to training like normal. Wally is going to stay once I've had the surgery just to help out with Rory and stuff... I just- I don't want to put that pressure on whatever this is we've got going on, Ims. Not while things are still so early, while we're still getting back on track.' Leah admits and Imogen nods her head.

'Yeah, I get that. I'll just come over to visit and stuff, give Wally a break when she needs it.' Imogen says kissing the top of the blonde's head.

'I can't believe it's happened again... I mean there was what? A few weeks between Beth and Viv, now there's been just over a week between me and Laura.' Leah almost whispers and Imogen shakes her head.

'I can't believe it. Four people in one season, at one club... Surely this needs to be looked into more. If this was in the men's game then this would immediately be being researched.' Imogen says and Leah nods her head.

'There's got to be something that causes it, some kind of internal thing.' Leah replies and Imogen nods her head.

'There must be.' Imogen says. A comfortable silence falls over them as Imogen's fingers brush over the skin of the blonde's hip.

'Are you doing okay? Like really doing okay?' Imogen asks softly causing the blonde to sigh.

'I think so.' Leah replies quietly.

'I'm here if you need me, if you're ever not okay.' Imogen says and Leah nods her head.

'I know.' Leah replies quietly.

****

It takes a few minutes for her to realise that the muffled cries of 'no' and 'please don't' are coming from the brunette beside her as slowly wakes up and adjusts to the darkness flooding the room as Imogen gently thrashes beside her.

'Immy... Imogen, you're okay.' Leah says softly, rolling onto her side as she runs her hand down the brunette's cheek in a bid to wake her from the nightmare she's clearly having. Her fingers gently run over Imogen's cheeks as she whispers words of comfort to the brunette in a bid to slowly bring the brunette out of the nightmare she's clearly having.

'Hey, pretty girl... You were having a nightmare.' Leah says softly as the brunette's eyes shoot open, her breathing rapid as she lifts on hand to rest on her chest.

'Le...' Imogen almost whispers as Leah pushes herself up onto her elbows and leans over to move some hair out of the brunette's face.

'I'm here, I'm right here.' Leah says.

'S-Sorry... They've uh- They've been a lot more often than they used to be.' Imogen replies biting her bottom lip as she runs her hand over her face.

'Don't be silly. You never have to apologise for having a nightmare. What can I do to help you?' Leah asks.

'Can you just hold me?' Imogen says quietly and the blonde nods her head. Shuffling up the bed, she opens her arms and smiles slightly as Imogen immediately slides into her embrace.

'Sorry if I woke you.' Imogen adds.

'Don't be. I've got you, I've always got you.' Leah says.