unexpected love (Leah Williamson)

Match Day

Leah's POV:

Match day was always electric. The anticipation, the noise of the crowd, the adrenaline—it never got old. Today, as I pulled on my Arsenal jersey and laced up my boots, I felt an extra surge of energy. We'd been on a winning streak, and everyone on the team was determined to keep it that way.

Stepping onto the field, I could feel the buzz of excitement from the crowd pulsing through the stadium. I caught Beth's eye, and we exchanged a quick, knowing nod. This was our territory, and we were ready to defend it.

The game kicked off fast. The other team was aggressive, pushing forward, determined to break our defense. But we pushed back, working in sync, pressing them from all sides. The ball moved quickly, each pass bringing us closer to their goal. I was in my element, every step and play automatic, instinctive. I loved this—each tackle, each sprint a reminder of why I'd chosen this path.

But as we moved into the second half, things took a sudden turn.

It happened in an instant—a quick tackle that went wrong. One second, I was charging forward with the ball, and the next, I felt an impact on my leg, and a sharp, searing pain shot through my knee. I heard the crowd gasp, but the only sound I registered was a loud pop. My body crumpled to the ground, the pain radiating up my leg as I grabbed my knee.

Beth was by my side in a flash, her face etched with worry. "Leah! Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with panic.

I tried to sit up, fighting the tears welling up in my eyes. I'd felt pain before, but this was different. I could barely move my leg, and every attempt to shift sent another wave of agony through me. I clenched my jaw, nodding to Beth even though I wasn't sure if I was okay myself.

The medical team rushed onto the field, carefully examining my knee. I could see it on their faces—the concern, the seriousness of the injury. They helped me onto the stretcher, and I had no choice but to watch the game go on without me. It felt surreal, being wheeled off the field, helpless. All I wanted was to be out there fighting with my team.

As they took me down the tunnel, my thoughts drifted to Ella. She'd be watching, of course—she'd told me just yesterday how excited she was to see the match. I could imagine her face, the worry in her eyes. My chest tightened, a new wave of frustration washing over me. I hated being out of control, but I knew one thing: if this injury was serious, I was facing a long road back.

Ella's POV:

I watched in horror from the stands, my heart pounding as I saw Leah go down. From this distance, I couldn't tell how bad it was, but the way she clutched her knee, the agony on her face—I knew it wasn't good. Every instinct told me to get down there, to somehow be by her side, but all I could do was sit there, frozen, helpless.

The rest of the match was a blur. I could barely focus on what was happening, my eyes constantly drifting to where Leah had been carried off. When the final whistle blew, I didn't wait—I made my way to the medical area, hoping for some kind of update.

When I finally reached her, she was lying on a bench, her face pale, eyes staring up at the ceiling. I could see the tension in her expression, the frustration in her clenched jaw. When she saw me, her face softened a little, her hand reaching out to me.

"Hey," she murmured, her voice quiet.

"Hey," I replied, taking her hand, feeling the worry I'd been holding back flood to the surface. "Leah... are you okay?"

She let out a shaky breath, trying to keep her tone casual. "They think it might be a ligament. They'll know more after the scans, but... it doesn't look good."

My heart sank. I could see the pain in her eyes, not just physical but emotional—the fear, the disappointment, the uncertainty. I sat down beside her, holding her hand tightly, hoping to reassure her, even if it was just a little.

"I'm here for you, Leah," I said softly. "No matter what happens."

She gave me a small, grateful smile, her thumb brushing over my hand. "Thanks, Ella. I think... I think I really needed to hear that."

Leah's POV:

The hours that followed felt like a haze. The doctors ran tests, took scans, and their worried expressions told me more than I wanted to know. It was an ACL tear, a complete rupture. The prognosis wasn't good—I was looking at surgery, months of rehab, and the possibility that I might not be able to play at the same level again.

I kept my face as calm as I could, nodding at the doctors' explanations, swallowing the emotions building up inside me. But once they left, the reality of it all hit me like a tidal wave. Football was my life, my identity. I'd worked so hard to get here, and in one moment, it had all been taken away.

Ella was still by my side, her hand steady on mine, her eyes filled with empathy. She hadn't said much since the doctors had broken the news, but her presence alone was a comfort. I didn't want to break down in front of her, but the fear and frustration clawed at my chest, and I knew I couldn't hold it in.

"Ella... I don't know how to do this," I admitted, my voice cracking. "What if... what if I can't come back from this?"

She squeezed my hand, her gaze unwavering. "Leah, you're one of the strongest people I know. You've fought through so much to get here. And whatever happens, you're going to get through this too. I'll be here every step of the way."

Her words brought a new wave of emotions—gratefulness, vulnerability, and a strange kind of peace. She wasn't pitying me; she believed in me, even when I was struggling to believe in myself.

In that moment, I realized that this injury, this uncertain future, was going to be one of the hardest battles I'd ever face. But with Ella by my side, I knew I wouldn't have to face it alone.