Matilda's Imagines

Endo

The sky was clear and the sun was high over the training grounds as the Matildas moved through drills like a well-oiled machine. On the surface, it looked like any other day—laughter, the pounding of boots against turf, shouts of encouragement—but one person was pushing herself far too hard.

Y/n, the youngest on the team by far, barely 16, kept her jaw clenched as she sprinted through a cone drill. Her hands trembled slightly, and sweat poured from her brow—not from exertion, but pain. She doubled over briefly when no one was watching, her arms crossing over her abdomen, trying to quiet the stabbing cramps that felt like knives twisting deep inside her. Endometriosis had been flaring for days, but she'd convinced herself she could manage. She didn't want to be seen as weak... or as even more of a baby than the others already teased her for.

Mini, ever the watchful one, had noticed Y/n's subtle limping earlier. And Alana—Lani to everyone but the rookies—had clocked the way the teen had barely touched her breakfast that morning. The two shared a glance across the pitch. It was unspoken: something was wrong.

Y/n winced as she jogged to her next position, her vision beginning to swim. She blinked hard, trying to focus, but it felt like her insides were on fire. She wasn't going to cry. She wouldn't.

Mini stepped forward, intercepting Y/n gently but firmly by the shoulder. "Alright, bub. Come here."

"I'm fine," Y/n said automatically, voice slightly high-pitched. Too quick. Too defensive.

"Don't lie to me, sweetheart," Mini replied, her voice soft but solid. She guided her off to the sideline as Lani followed close behind.

"I said I'm fine," Y/n snapped, her voice cracking on the last word. She turned away, pressing her hands hard into her abdomen. But the act didn't hold.

Lani crouched slightly to meet her eyes. "Y/n... kiddo. You're pale, you're shaking, and I saw you nearly fall over coming out of that sprint. What's going on?"

Y/n's lips quivered as she looked away. "It's just cramps. I get them bad, sometimes. I didn't want to bother anyone..."

Mini's heart ached. She stepped closer, brushing sweaty hair out of the teen's eyes. "Is it the endo again?"

Y/n nodded, biting her lip until it nearly bled.

And that's when the dam broke.

"I hate this. I hate my body. I just wanted to be normal today. I wanted to be good enough. Everyone always has to worry about me and I'm just—just the stupid baby all the time—" Her voice crumpled under the weight of her pain and years of being too much and not enough at the same time.

Lani reached for her, wrapping the girl in a tight hug, grounding her. "Hey. No. You're not a burden, Y/n. You hear me? You're our teammate. Our sister."

Mini joined, cupping Y/n's tear-streaked face with a mother's warmth. "There's nothing weak about pushing through pain like this. But you don't have to. Not with us. We'd rather carry you than watch you break."

Y/n collapsed into their arms then, shaking with sobs, letting herself be held—for once, letting the strength come from someone else. The training continued around them, but for this moment, the world got quiet. Safe.

"Let's get you inside," Mini whispered, placing a gentle hand on her back. "Rest, a hot pack, and a cup of Milo. That's an order."

Y/n let out a weak laugh between tears. "Yes, Mum."

As the three walked toward the facility, Macca called out from across the pitch, "Oi! If you lot are having snacks without us, I'm telling Kyra!"

Y/n cracked a small smile.

She wasn't alone. Not anymore.