Arsenal Womens OneShots

Rough Training Day-Leah Williamson

Features Kyra Cooney-Cross, Alessia Russo and Kathrine Kühl
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Leah woke up feeling slightly off. Her face felt warm, and she noticed a faint tingling sensation on her skin. Glancing in the mirror, she saw her cheeks looked redder than usual, and her eyes were slightly puffy. "Must be allergies acting up," she muttered, brushing it off as something minor. Leah knew she should probably tell someone, but with a big match coming up, she didn't want to be benched.

Determined to push through, she geared up and headed to training. As soon as she entered the locker room, Beth Mead noticed something was off. "Leah, are you okay? You look a bit flushed."

"I'm fine," Leah replied quickly, trying to sound convincing. "Just allergies."

Beth frowned but didn't press further, though she kept a close eye on her friend. Soon, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Alessia Russo, and Kathrine Kühl joined them, and they all headed out onto the pitch.

The training session began, and Leah tried her best to keep up with the pace, ignoring the growing discomfort. Every time she ran, her chest felt tighter, and her skin itched fiercely. She struggled to focus, her mind drifting between the drills and the strange sensation spreading over her body.

At one point, Kat passed the ball to Leah, but Leah missed it completely, stumbling over her own feet. Kyra jogged over, concerned. "Leah, that's not like you. Are you sure you're okay?"

Leah forced a smile. "Yeah, yeah, just... didn't sleep well last night."

Beth, Kyra, Less, and Kat exchanged worried glances. They could tell Leah wasn't herself, but she was clearly determined to push through. Alessia approached her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Leah, you don't have to pretend. If something's wrong, you should sit this one out."

Leah shook her head, though she was starting to feel dizzy. "I'm fine," she insisted, even as her breathing grew more labored.

Beth decided she'd had enough and called over the coach. "Leah's not feeling well. I think she should sit out."

Before Leah could protest, the coach was by her side, examining her closely. "Leah, this doesn't look like normal allergies. I'm calling the medical team."

As they led her off the field, Leah finally admitted to herself that she should have spoken up earlier. She looked at her friends apologetically. "Sorry, guys. I thought I could handle it."

Beth squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Next time, just let us know. We're a team, and we've got your back."

Kyra, Less, and Kat nodded in agreement. Leah smiled, grateful for her friends and the lesson she'd learned about pushing through on her own.