‘Jen said she told the scouts that you weren’t playing,’ Maya tells me when she comes over to visit me the day before the match. I try not to be hurt by this – it’s what Jen should have done as soon as I was injured. She’d postponed because I’d asked her to, probably knowing full well that there was no way that I was going to be able to play.
‘I guess that’s it then.’
Maya frowns at the dejection on my face. ‘Hey, it’ll beOK. I bet Jen can reschedule and they’ll come and see you play another match. This isn’t your only chance, I promise.’ Maya obviously can’t promise because she doesn’t know what’s going to happen. This feels like my only chance, especially since I rarely ever get chances anyway. But football has been like a lifeline from the beginning – something that could maybe change things for me. And this opportunity has felt like a start. Finally, a chance to prove myself, to try to achieve my dreams.
I should have expected that everything would come crashing down.
‘Yeah, maybe,’ I say.
Maya scoots closer to me from the end of the bed where she has been sitting. She brushes my hair away from my face, and even though it does nothing in reality, it calms me down a little. At least, no matter what happens, I have Maya here with me.
‘Look, you don’t even know what was going to happen with these scouts. I know you’re sad about missing this opportunity, but there will be others,’ Maya says. ‘And you’re like the best football player ever. Trust me, someone is going to scoop you up before long, and then the only place I’ll ever see you is on my TV screen, killing it on the football pitch.’
I smile at Maya’s faith in me. ‘Please, you’ll see me on that pitch when we’re on competing teams.’
Maya’s smile widens. ‘Yeah, and I guess I’ll have to beat you. Maybe I’ll take pity on you and let you score a goal.’
I roll my eyes. It sounds silly to say it aloud, but I can almost imagine that life. Me and Maya both making it onto professional teams. We’d be like a football power couple.
I lean forward and plant a kiss on her lips, and she smiles against me for a moment.
‘Thanks, Maya,’ I say. ‘You’re right. There’ll be more opportunities. For both of us.’
‘I told you we’d be late,’ I grumble to Deen as he turns the car into the car park. We’ve already missed half the match, thanks to my brother.
‘Hey, I’m doing you a favour by driving you. You shouldn’t even be here,’ Deen says.
Technically, I’m still supposed to be on bedrest, but I didn’t want to miss the match. The least I could do is come out here and support the team, and Maya. Especially when Maya has been making sure I’ve been taken care of since I got injured – both emotionally and physically.
‘Just find a parking spot!’ I say, not wanting to be any later than we already are.
Deen rolls his eyes, but quickly parks the car, before opening my door with my crutches in his hands. I take them when he offers them to me, and it takes a second for me to find my balance. I haven’t had to use them much since I’ve mostly been in bed for the past week and so I’m still getting used to them.
‘You need some help?’ Deen asks, raising an eyebrow.
‘I’m fine,’ I say, hobbling towards the football pitch.
I hear Deen sigh behind me as he starts to follow. I know that he would rather be hanging out with his friends today, so I appreciate that he actually agreed to drive me here. With Ma at work, and Baba busy with the restaurant, he was my only choice.
The match is in full swing and I spot Maya on the pitch. She is laser-focused, and I know that she probably won’teven notice me until the match is over and she doesn’t have tunnel vision anymore.
‘Dina.’ Jen notices me from her position on the touchline. She comes over, frowning. ‘What are you doing here? How’s your leg?’
I’m sure Maya’s been giving her daily updates about me.
‘It’s OK, a little better,’ I say. ‘I thought that I’d come and support the team.’
‘You should really be at home, getting some rest,’ Jen says.
‘But it’s the last game of the season,’ I reply.
‘Well, take it easy,’ Jen says. She’s about to turn back towards the match, but I stop her.
‘I’m sorry you had to cancel with the scouts,’ I say. ‘I know it wasn’t easy to arrange them coming.’
Jen gives me a flickering smile. ‘You have nothing to be sorry about. And, actually, I did tell them that you wouldn’t be playing, but they still wanted to check out the match. They want to see what the team is capable of.’
‘Oh.’
