September. || mario gotze ✔️

Alice in Real-land

'Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Joachim, happy birthday to you!' The Germany NT couch listened from the cellphone. His parents had decided it would be a better idea to send an audio intead of visiting him. Such a gorgeous feeling. 

'Happy b-day man! Hope you get what you need in this day' Said a whatsapp from his younger brother. 

And sure he did had to get what he needed. All he had been thinking about those weeks was the little and pale face of a young woman across the ocean, living a life he had taken away from her moths ago. He hadn't sent her any messanges but  few photographs he had found of them, he understood she needed her space back in her country. And in that space, he wasn't a star.

He wasn't depressed. Nor sad. Nor hurt. He was just shock because of the guilt he had been caught by. Why did he feel like that? No idea. His one and only wish in tht day was to be released from that longing that was crawling in his heart.

At 9 o' clock he had breakfast by himself on the dining room.  One hour lter, he was expected to be on the Allianz Arena to look at some new young players. He prepared himself and wished to get over that day the quicker it could be. 

The transit was heavy, the weather windy and cold and the pitch was snowy. The players from the national team greeted him and went to train. He stayed sat on the bench, looking with emptiness, almost with desinterest. 

'Jogi, are you ok man?' Mario came closer to ask him. 

'Oh yeah yeah sure' He answered coming back to the world. 

'Very focused, obviously' Mario added with sarcasm 'By the way, today we are going to drink something, do you want to come with us?'

Joachim thought about it less than a minute. 'I aprecciate but no, I'd rather stay at home' 

'C'mon Jogi! Relax ! A little bit of dancing, another little bit of drinking, maybe we can find you a nice woman to talk...' 

'Thank you, Mario. But my answer is no.'

Mario went back with his teammates, where Bastian and Manuel were waiting for him.

'He's feeling so miserably, he hadn't got a clue of what might happen' Mario told them.

'I can feel the excitment in the air!' Manuel exclaimed in a funny voice.

The day passed by with no surprises or moments to remember. It was boring, Joachim had to admit, and at 3 o' clock in the afternoon, he felt it was time to go home.

He was heading to his car when Bastian saw him.

'Couch! Where are you going? Traning hasn't finished yet!' he shouted to be heard.

'I know Bastian, but I'm tired, it's my birthday and I want to lay in my sofa' he sadi taking the keys from his pocket.

'But you can't go home!' The midfielder asnwered in a desesperate voice.

'Why not?'

'Because.. eh... cause it's your birthday! Where is the funny Jogi you used to be?'

'Locked in my wardrobe.' he told him getting into the car.

Immeadiately, Bastian called Mario

'Gotze, we have an emergency'

'Why are you calling me, dude? I'm inside the stadium...just like you'

'LOW IS GOING TO THE HOUSE!!!!' he exclaimed.

'Damn it!' Mario yelled as he ran to the exit door .