Until my Last Breath

54

Barcelona, Spain

Maverick is already by the door when I turn around, tail wagging eagerly, knowing exactly what's coming.

"Alright, alright, Allons-y," I say with a small chuckle, grabbing his leash and clipping it onto his collar.

The moment we step outside, the crisp morning air greets us, cool and refreshing against my skin. I take a deep breath, adjusting my headphones before breaking into a steady jog, Maverick happily trotting beside me.

And just like that, for a little while, my mind clears.

As my feet hit the pavement in a steady rhythm, the cool morning air fills my lungs, refreshing and crisp. Maverick trots beside me, his ears perked and his tongue hanging out slightly, clearly enjoying the run just as much as I am. For a few blissful minutes, I let myself get lost in the movement, in the sound of my breath syncing with my stride, in the simple, familiar comfort of running.

But, inevitably, my thoughts drift back to him. To us.

It feels surreal, almost. How quickly everything between us has shifted, how one night-one conversation-has unraveled so much of the distance I tried to put between us. I let my guard down, let myself be seen, and even now, in the bright light of morning, I don't regret it.

But the reality of it lingers at the back of my mind like a shadow I can't quite shake.

Gavi and I... we're young. Too young, maybe, for something this intense, this all-consuming. And on top of that, we're both under the relentless scrutiny of the public eye. Every move we make, every interaction, every whisper of something more between us would be analyzed, dissected, turned into headlines.

I know what that kind of pressure does to people. How it can twist and ruin something before it's even had a chance to grow.

And then there's the weight of our careers. He's one of the brightest talents in football, carrying the expectations of an entire club, an entire country, on his shoulders. And me? I have my own name to make, my own battles to fight.

Are we setting ourselves up for something impossible?

I shake my head, exhaling sharply as I try to push the thoughts away.

Because last night, for the first time in so long, I didn't feel alone in the way I carried my past, my fears. And maybe that means something. Maybe it means everything.

Maverick tugs at his leash slightly, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glance down at him, his eyes bright and full of energy, and I can't help but smile.

"Allez, mav," I murmur, picking up the pace.

For now, I let myself run. I let my body move, my mind clear, and I remind myself-whatever happens next, I'll face it when it comes.

As I slow my pace to a steady jog, trying to catch my breath, my phone buzzes in my pocket. Still gripping Maverick's leash, I pull it out and glance at the screen.

Gavi-FaceTime Incoming.

I hesitate for only a second before swiping to accept, and almost immediately, his face fills my screen. He's in the locker room, his hair damp with sweat, strands sticking to his forehead, his training jersey clinging to his body. The sight catches me off guard for a moment-his flushed skin, the way his chest rises and falls, the exhaustion mixed with adrenaline in his eyes.

"Hey," he breathes out, running a hand through his hair. "Where are you?"

"Out on a run," I reply, shifting the camera slightly to show Maverick trotting beside me.