012 | when the fire burns out

The training session was nearing its peak. The drills had been intense all morning, with players giving their all as they prepared for the next big match. Gianna had been relentless as usual, darting around the pitch, her movements precise and controlled. Even with Lucía's continued provocations, she'd managed to keep her focus-until now.

The air was sharp with the sounds of cleats scuffing against turf, balls being kicked, and the occasional shout from the coach. Gianna sprinted forward to intercept a pass during a small-sided scrimmage, her eyes locked on the ball. Her body moved instinctively, her mind clear of everything but the game.

Then it happened.

Lucía, coming in from the side, lunged for the ball with reckless abandon. Her tackle wasn't just mistimed-it was malicious. Cleats connected with Gianna's knee instead of the ball, the impact sending her crumpling to the ground.

A sickening crack filled the air, followed by Gianna's scream-raw, guttural, and filled with agony. The entire pitch went silent.

Gianna lay on the ground, her head pressed into the grass, her hands clutching her knee as if trying to hold it together. Her lips trembled, and tears spilled down her face uncontrollably. She bit down hard, trying to stop the sobs from escaping, but the pain was overwhelming, radiating through her leg and up her spine like fire.

"Gianna!"

Hector's voice cut through the stunned silence. He had been mid-drill on a neighboring pitch with the youth team, but the second he saw her go down, he bolted toward her, his cleats barely touching the ground.

"Move! Move!" Hector barked at the players who had gathered around her. He dropped to his knees beside her, his heart pounding.

"Gigi," he said, his voice softer now, filled with worry. "What happened? Where does it hurt?"

She couldn't respond, her face buried in her arm as her entire body trembled. Her hands were still gripping her knee, her knuckles white.

"Gianna," Hector tried again, leaning closer. "You've got to tell me what's wrong."

Her head lifted slightly, her tear-streaked face turning toward him. Her lips quivered as she whispered, "It's my knee. It... it hurts so much."

Hector's jaw clenched as he looked down at her leg. He didn't need to be a doctor to see that something was seriously wrong. Her knee was already beginning to swell, the skin around it red and angry.

"Coach!" Hector shouted over his shoulder, his voice urgent. "We need the medic, now!"

Gianna let out another choked sob, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she tried to push herself up. Hector gently placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"Don't move," he said firmly, his eyes locking with hers. "You'll make it worse. Just stay still, okay?"

"I-" Her voice cracked, and she bit down on her lip so hard it nearly drew blood. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her breaths coming in sharp, shallow gasps.

Hector reached out, brushing her damp hair away from her face. "Hey, hey. Breathe, Gigi. Just breathe. I'm here."

Her chest rose and fell unevenly as she tried to do as he said, but the pain was relentless. Her fingers dug into the grass beneath her, trying to ground herself as waves of agony crashed over her.

By the time the medic arrived, Hector hadn't left her side. Marc Guiu and Cienna were there too, their faces pale with worry.

"What happened?" the medic asked as they knelt beside her, quickly assessing the injury.

"She took a bad tackle," Hector explained, his voice tight. "Her knee-"

"I know," the medic said, cutting him off as they gently examined Gianna's leg. She let out another pained cry, her hands shooting up to cover her face as she shook uncontrollably.

"Gigi, you're okay," Cienna said, crouching down on her other side. "I'm right here, okay? Just hold on."

Gianna peeked out from behind her hands, her lips trembling as she looked at her best friend. "It hurts, Cienna," she whispered, her voice breaking. "It hurts so much."

Cienna's eyes filled with tears, but she kept her composure. "I know. But you're strong, Gigi. You're going to get through this."

Hector, still kneeling beside her, reached for her hand. "Squeeze if you need to," he said quietly.

She hesitated for a moment before gripping his hand tightly, her fingers trembling against his. He didn't flinch, his grip steady and comforting.

Lucía stood off to the side, her expression unreadable as the scene unfolded. No one spared her a glance, their focus entirely on Gianna.

The medic carefully straightened her leg, eliciting another scream that echoed across the pitch. Gianna's free hand shot up to cover her mouth, her teeth sinking into her lip to keep from crying out again.

"Easy," the medic said soothingly. "We're going to get you off the pitch and to the medical center. Just hang in there a little longer."

Hector helped them lift her onto the stretcher, his hand never leaving hers until the medic told him to step back. As they carried her away, Gianna turned her head to look at him, her tear-filled eyes locking with his.

"Stay close," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I'm not going anywhere," Hector promised.

As the stretcher disappeared toward the locker rooms, the pitch remained eerily silent. The players exchanged worried glances, their earlier competitiveness replaced by concern for their teammate.

Hector stood frozen, his fists clenched at his sides as he stared after Gianna. Marc Guiu approached, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"She's tough," Marc said softly. "She'll be okay."

Hector nodded, but his jaw remained tight. His mind replayed the moment Lucía's tackle had taken Gianna down, and anger simmered beneath the surface.

"She didn't deserve that," he muttered, his voice low.

"No, she didn't," Marc agreed.

As practice resumed, Hector's mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake the image of Gianna on the ground, her face twisted in pain, her hands trembling. All he could think about was making sure she was okay-and making sure Lucía never got the chance to hurt her again.