Best Mistake ︱Pedri González

41

Luciana's POV

After our trip to Madrid, Valeria and I were back in Barcelona. The city felt familiar yet refreshed, as if the brief getaway had given me a new perspective. I had my therapy session with Dr. Sanchez scheduled that afternoon, and I was eager to share everything that had happened over the past few days.

When I arrived at Dr. Sanchez's office, the familiar, calming scent of lavender filled the air. I sank into the soft, leather chair across from her, feeling a mix of comfort and anticipation.

Dr. Sanchez greeted me with her usual warm smile. "Hey, Luciana. How was your trip to Madrid? You seem a little more at ease today."

I smiled back, settling into my seat. "It was exactly what I needed. Valeria and I stayed near Santiago Bernabéu, and we just took time to relax and explore. It felt good to get away from everything here, even if it was just for a few days."

She nodded, jotting down some notes. "I'm glad to hear that. It sounds like you're finding ways to take care of yourself. Did anything, in particular, stand out from your trip?"

I hesitated for a moment, thinking about our unexpected encounter at the market. "Yeah, actually. Valeria and I ended up bumping into some Real Madrid players—Camavinga and Jude Bellingham. It was... surprising, to say the least."

Dr. Sanchez raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? How did that go? I imagine meeting rivals outside of the usual football setting must've been interesting."

I laughed softly, still amused by the memory. "Honestly, it was. We were at this local market, just checking out different stalls, and then we saw them. I expected it to be awkward, but they were super chill. Jude's British accent made everything funnier. We joked around, ate tacos together, and even made fun of each other. It was like hanging out with old friends, not rivals."

"That sounds like a really positive experience," Dr. Sanchez said, smiling. "It must've been nice to connect with people outside of your usual circle, especially when you weren't expecting it."

"Yeah, it really was," I admitted, leaning back in my chair. "It was just... different. For a moment, I forgot about all the stress and pressure. We were just people enjoying a day out."

Dr. Sanchez made another note, then looked back at me thoughtfully. "It's good that you're meeting new people and allowing yourself to enjoy those moments. How did it feel to step away from your usual environment and meet someone new?"

"It felt freeing," I said after a moment of reflection. "I didn't have to think about work, or the break-up, or any of the usual stuff. It was just us, talking and laughing. And you know, it made me realize that maybe I've been too stuck in my own little world. I've been so focused on my problems that I forgot there's a whole life outside of that."

Dr. Sanchez nodded in agreement. "That's a great insight, Luciana. Often, when we're caught up in our struggles, it's easy to feel like our world is shrinking. But experiences like this remind us that life is bigger than our worries. And speaking of new experiences, how's the track training coming along?"

I brightened at the mention of track. "It's been amazing! I met up with my old coach, Juan Diaz. He's moved back to Spain, and he's been helping me get back into the rhythm. We've been working on my block starts and my form. He said I still have my speed and power, which was such a relief to hear."

Dr. Sanchez smiled, clearly pleased. "That's wonderful news! How does it feel to be back on the track after all this time?"

"It feels like I'm coming home," I admitted, feeling a wave of emotion. "I didn't realize how much I missed it. Running again, pushing myself—I feel like I'm reconnecting with a part of me that I lost when I left London. It's like finding a piece of myself I didn't even know was missing."