Over the next few weeks, Yn gradually found her way back to herself, and Summer was with her every step of the way. The days were slow, but filled with tiny victories: Yn laughing at one of Summer's silly jokes, venturing out of the apartment, or even kicking a ball around in the park. Little by little, Yn began to feel her old self returning.
One chilly Friday evening, Yn and Summer were curled up on the couch, the warmth of a small blanket draped over their legs as they scrolled through Netflix.
"Alright," Summer said, holding up the remote, “action or comedy?”
Yn tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Comedy. Definitely need something light."
Summer grinned. "Alright, but if this movie's terrible, don't blame me."
As the movie began, Yn rested her head on Summer's shoulder, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time. It was nice, sitting here like this, free of the heaviness that had followed her around for so long. She smiled to herself, finally feeling something close to normal again.
Halfway through the movie, Yn’s phone buzzed, and she glanced down to see a message from Leah Williamson.
Leah: Hey, stranger! How are you doing? Been too long!
Yn chuckled and showed Summer the screen. “Leah,” she said with a smile.
"Tell her hi for me!" Summer said, nudging her. “Everyone’s been checking in on you. I think they're just glad you’re finally talking again.”
Yn typed back a quick response: Hey, Leah! I’m doing much better, thanks to Summer. Miss you too!
Leah’s reply came almost immediately: Good to hear! Are you up for a coffee sometime? Katie and I would love to catch up.
Yn looked up at Summer, her excitement obvious. “Leah and Katie want to meet up. Think I’m ready for that?”
Summer smiled, giving her a little nod. “Definitely. You’ve come so far, Yn. Plus, it’s about time you saw everyone. You could use a bit of that crazy energy.”
Yn grinned. “Alright, then. I’ll set something up.”
---
A few days later, Yn was sitting across from Leah and Katie in a cozy coffee shop, the laughter and buzz of the place wrapping around them like a warm blanket. Leah and Katie looked delighted to see her, their faces lighting up the moment she walked through the door.
“There she is!” Katie cheered, pulling Yn into a big hug. “Finally, you’re back! We’ve missed you.”
Leah laughed, nudging Katie to give Yn some space. “It’s so good to see you looking like yourself again,” Leah said, beaming. “How’s everything?”
Yn took a breath, glancing at both of them. “It’s… been a lot,” she admitted. “But Summer’s been amazing. I don’t think I would have gotten through this without her.”
Katie grinned. “That girl’s a keeper.”
Yn nodded, smiling fondly. “I know.”
They chatted for a while, talking about training, the latest team gossip, and everything Yn had missed. Leah filled Yn in on the team dynamics, mentioning how Alessia and Ella had been pestering the coaches with prank ideas, and Katie recounted a particularly embarrassing moment in practice that had them all in stitches.
As the laughter faded, Leah grew serious, leaning in toward Yn. “Honestly, though, we’re all really glad to see you doing better. You’ve been through so much.”
Yn nodded, her gaze softening. “It was hard. Really hard. But being around Summer and taking things slow… it made me realize I can handle more than I thought. And having friends like you guys helps.”
Katie raised her coffee cup, grinning. “To friends, then. We’ve got your back, always.”
Leah and Yn clinked their cups with Katie’s, and they laughed together, the sound light and easy. Yn realized then just how lucky she was to have these people in her life.
---
When Yn got home that evening, Summer was waiting with takeout containers spread across the table, smiling as Yn walked through the door.
“Welcome back!” Summer called, gesturing grandly to the food. “I ordered a bit of everything because I couldn’t decide, and I figured you deserved a feast after catching up with your girls.”
Yn laughed, giving Summer a grateful hug. “You’re too good to me.”
They settled down to eat, and Summer propped her chin in her hand, watching Yn. “So, how was it seeing Leah and Katie?”
Yn beamed, her eyes bright. “Amazing. I missed them so much. We talked about everything, from football to just… life. It felt good, you know? Like I was finally moving forward.”
Summer smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze Yn’s hand. “I’m so glad. I’ve seen how hard you’ve been working to get back to yourself. And I want you to know how proud I am of you.”
Yn looked down, her cheeks flushed. “It’s been tough. There were times I thought I’d never feel normal again. But with you and my friends… I feel like I’m finally getting there.”
They ate in comfortable silence, and later that night, they cuddled up on the couch, flipping through photos from their recent outings.
As Summer scrolled, she laughed, landing on a photo of Yn making a ridiculous face while trying to eat an ice cream cone.
“Look at this,” Summer teased, holding up the photo. “You look like a kid trying to eat ice cream for the first time!”
Yn laughed, grabbing the phone to swipe away the picture. “Hey, I was just enjoying myself!”
“Well, it’s adorable,” Summer said, grinning. “It’s good to see you so carefree again.”
Yn leaned her head on Summer’s shoulder, closing her eyes as a peaceful silence settled between them. “Thank you, Summer. For sticking by me, for making me laugh, and for reminding me that there’s still so much good in life.”
Summer turned to face her, her expression soft. “Yn, I’ll always be here. Through the good, the bad, and everything in between. We’re a team, remember?”
Yn smiled, feeling her heart swell with gratitude and warmth. “Yeah. A team.”
They spent the rest of the night reminiscing, laughing, and making plans for the future. The dark days felt far behind them, replaced by the comfort and love they had built together. Yn knew there would still be challenges ahead, but with Summer by her side, she felt stronger, ready to face whatever came next.
