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3RD PERSON (narrative)
Nika sat on the couch, her knees pulled up to her chest and her face buried in her hands. Papers were scattered across the coffee table—forms, documents, and emails from her agent, team representatives, and immigration officials. It felt like an insurmountable wall she couldn't climb, and the weight of it all was pressing on her like a boulder.
She couldn't play. Couldn't suit up for her team. Couldn't do the thing she had worked her entire life for.
Her stomach churned at the thought of sitting out another game, missing another opportunity to prove herself. Her Seattle Storm teammates were kind and supportive, but she hated feeling like a burden—like she wasn't pulling her weight.
The sound of the front door opening made her lift her head slightly, just enough to see Rylee walk in with Milo trotting happily behind her.
"Hey, baby," Rylee said softly, immediately picking up on Nika's frazzled state. She dropped her bag near the door and crossed the room in a few quick strides. "What's going on?"
Nika didn't answer right away, her throat tight as she tried to hold back the tears threatening to spill. Rylee crouched in front of her, placing a gentle hand on her knee.
"Talk to me," Rylee coaxed. "What's got you so upset?"
"It's the stupid VISA," Nika finally mumbled, her accent thick with frustration. "I can't play until it's sorted, and it's taking so long. What if it doesn't come through in time? What if I miss the whole season?"
Her voice cracked, and Rylee's heart broke at the sight of her usually strong, confident fiancée crumbling under the pressure.
"Hey, hey," Rylee said softly, moving to sit beside her on the couch. She wrapped an arm around Nika's shoulders, pulling her close. "It's going to be okay. I promise."
Nika shook her head, the tears spilling over now. "You don't know that, Ry. I've done everything they asked—submitted every form, given every document—but it's just not moving. And I hate sitting here doing nothing while everyone else is out there."
"You're not doing nothing," Rylee said firmly, rubbing her hand up and down Nika's back. "You're dealing with a stupid, complicated system that isn't your fault. That doesn't make you less of a player or less of a person."
Nika let out a shaky breath, leaning into Rylee's comforting touch. "I just feel so helpless."
"I know, baby," Rylee murmured. "But you're not alone in this. We're going to figure it out together."
Nika didn't respond right away, but she let herself melt into Rylee's embrace, the steady beat of her fiancée's heart helping to calm her own.
After a few moments, Rylee pulled back just enough to look Nika in the eyes. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. First, we're going to take a deep breath."
