My future was taken from me 7 years ago.
Now that I've got my life back it's gonna take a village to help me rebuild my life.
Come follow my journey as I'm reborn.
"Taco I'm thinking we get mexican tonight after the game." I say as I pull into the underground parking garage here at Harlem River stadium. "Ooh or maybe we can go to that bodega that's around the corner."
Taco awoo's in agreement so I focus on parking.
After I'm parked in my reserved spot, my doggy and I get out of the car then I get our stuff from the trunk.
Once we have our stuff, I close and lock my car then we walk to the home locker room here in Harlem River Stadium.
As we're walking into the locker room, I look at our line-up on the wall.
After I look at the line-up I put my stuff in my locker.
Once my stuff is in my locker, my teammates and I head outside for the pitch inspection.
When we get out on the pitch, I throw Taco's ball around the field for him to fetch.
After I've played with my doggy for a few minutes I head back to the locker room.
When I get to my locker I take my AirPods out, I take out my nose ring, I take off my necklaces, earrings, bracelet, watch, and my rings, put my jewelry in it's safe then I put my jewelry safe and AirPods in my bag.
Once I'm jewelry free I take off my tracksuit and put my long, curly, dark brown hair up in a ponytail then I put on my short sleeve purple undershirt, my warm up top, and I put on my game shorts.
I then sit down in my locker and put on my socks, my shin pads and my red boots.
After my boots are on I tape my wrists, hands, and fingers then I put on my purple keeper gloves before I head onto the field with the other keepers.
When I get on the pitch I run through my warm ups with the keepers for a while then head back to the locker room.
Once in the locker room I change out of the training top and change into my purple keeper jersey while Amy does her last minute talks.
When the last minute talks end, we are told to head to the tunnel so I grab my towel and water bottle then Taco and I do as told.
Once in the tunnel, I line-up right behind Talia then I wait for us to be called out.
Minutes later we are told to head out onto the field for the prematch stuff so I follow Talia out onto the field.
Once on the field we stand in line for a few seconds then we shake hands with the Olympique St. Louis players.
After we shake hands, we take a starting XI picture, Talia does the coin toss, we do our team huddle, then I lead Taco to the bench.
"Stay here Taco." I say
Taco yips and smiles at me so I scratch his head then I jog to my position on the field.
Once I'm at my goal, I hang my towel up on the net, put my water bottle in the net then Willow and Sarah come over and fist bump me before they head to their spots.
"I hope this game is better than the last one." I mumble as I get in my goal. "Last game was boring as shit."
- - - - -
"Well that game was entertaining." Talia says as we fist bump after the match.
"For you." I say. "My saves were easy."
"That's not a bad thing." Talia says.
"I guess not." I say as I scratch Taco's head. "Still a bit boring."
We won 3-0 thanks to goals from Talia, Linda, and Aitana.
I only had to make 3 saves and they were all easy.
"Yeah."
"Hey Talia who's standing with Leah?" Sarah says as she approaches causing me to look at where Leah usually waits for Talia on the side of the pitch after the matches.
"That's my old cellmate." I say as I look at my friend.
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"Why was she in prison?" Talia asks.
"She caught her boyfriend doing nasty things with her three year old son." I say. "So she killed him."
"That seems justified." Sarah says.
"Yep." I say. "Excuse me."
Once I've excused myself, Taco and I make a beeline towards my cellmate.
Seconds later I get to my cellmate so I wrap my arms around her and hug her.
"You got out." I say.
"I did." Nadia Curtis says with a smile.
"Do you have anywhere to be tonight?" I ask as I pick up my friend.
"Nope."
"Good." I say. "Come on Taco."
"Well it was nice meeting you." Nadia says as I carry her away from Leah.
"We'll have to get together again." Leah says.
"Sounds good." Nadia says then she turns her head and looks towards the way we're walking. "Where are we walking to?"
"The room on the left." I say. "The one with the big home locker room sign.
"Okay." Nadia says then she helps direct me to the locker room.
Once in the locker room I carry my friend to my locker then I sit her down in my chair.
"Strong Superstar." Nadia says with a smile.
I chuckle then I hear my phone buzz so I grab it from my bag and check it.
"Holy shit." I say.
"What?" Nadia asks as I look at the picture I just got sent.
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"I got called up to the US national team." I say with a smile.
"Well you know what that means Avalon." Nadia says. "We need to celebrate."
