013 | scared

The sterile scent of the hospital room filled the air, mingling with the faint hum of machines. Gianna lay in the bed, her right leg propped up, an ice pack resting carefully on her swollen knee. The room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of the monitor and the occasional shuffle of a nurse's footsteps outside the door.

Gianna had been in and out of consciousness for the last few hours, the pain of the injury and the trauma of the moment still too fresh in her mind. She hadn't wanted to be here. She had wanted to be back out on the pitch, running, playing, proving she could take on anything. But that was before the tackle.

She was trying to stay calm, trying to breathe through the pain, but her mind was restless. Every time she closed her eyes, she replayed the events in her head-Lucía's tackle, the sharp pain that ripped through her knee, the sound of her own scream.

The door creaked open, and Gianna's heart skipped as Hector walked in. His face was weary, but his expression softened the moment his eyes landed on her.

"Hey," he said quietly, pulling up a chair beside her bed. "How are you feeling?"

Gianna looked at him, her lips trembling despite her best efforts to stay composed. "I'll live," she said, her voice raspy. "It hurts. A lot. But... I'll be fine."

Hector took her hand gently, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "You're tough. I know that. But this-this is different. You don't need to pretend with me, Gigi. Not now."

Gianna squeezed his hand, but she didn't say anything. The truth was, she wasn't sure if she'd be okay. Her knee had been swollen so badly, the doctors weren't sure whether it was just a severe sprain or something worse-an injury that could keep her off the pitch for months.

"Lucía..." she whispered, the name coming out like a cold gust of wind. She could feel the anger building again, her stomach twisting with frustration. "She did this on purpose, Hector. I'm sure of it. She had that look in her eyes, like she was just waiting for a chance to hurt me."

Hector's expression hardened. He looked away briefly, then back at her, his voice low. "I don't know what happened between you two, but that tackle wasn't a mistake. I saw the way she came in." His jaw clenched, and his hand tightened around hers. "You didn't deserve that, Gianna. You didn't deserve any of this."

Gianna let out a shaky breath, her gaze falling to her bandaged knee. She bit her lip to hold back more tears, but they came anyway. It wasn't just the physical pain that was breaking her-it was the emotional toll of being taken down by someone she had tried to welcome into the team.

"I just wanted to play, Hector," she murmured, her voice breaking. "I just wanted to keep moving forward. But now..." Her chest tightened as the sobs threatened to break free, and she buried her face in her free hand.

Hector didn't hesitate. He leaned forward and gently wiped away the tears from her cheek. "I know, Gigi. I know. You're going to get through this. Whatever happens, I'll be here. You're not alone in this."

Gianna looked up at him, her eyes filled with doubt and fear. "What if I can't play again? What if I can't do what I love?"

Hector took a deep breath, his eyes softening. "Don't think about that right now. You've got the best doctors, the best rehab team. You're strong, Gianna. Stronger than you know. You've been through worse, and you came out on top. This is just a setback."

"But what if it's more than that?" Gianna whispered. "What if it's something I can't come back from?"

Hector paused, his thumb moving in slow circles on her hand. "We'll face that when we get there. But right now, I need you to focus on getting better. Don't let the fear take over, okay? One step at a time."

Gianna nodded, her eyes glassy, but something about Hector's calm presence helped ease the storm raging in her chest. He was right. She had been knocked down before, but she'd always gotten back up. This time, it wouldn't be any different.

A knock at the door interrupted their moment. The nurse poked her head in, offering a small smile. "Sorry to interrupt, but it's time to check on your leg, Gianna. We'll take care of you now."

Gianna squeezed Hector's hand one last time before he stood up. "I'll be right here when you're done," he promised.

"Thanks," Gianna whispered, her voice still hoarse. She gave him a small smile before he stepped out of the room.

The nurse gently lifted her leg, inspecting the swelling, while Gianna closed her eyes, trying to relax. It was a strange feeling, knowing that she wasn't in control of her body at the moment. She had always prided herself on being strong, on pushing through injuries and obstacles, but now, she felt vulnerable-like a child again.

But she wouldn't stay like this. She wouldn't stay down.

Because the fire inside her-the one that had always driven her to give her all-was still burning. And no injury, no matter how bad, could put it out.

"I'll be back out there," Gianna whispered to herself. "I'll fight my way back. No one's taking this from me."

She knew Hector would be there every step of the way, but even if she had to face this challenge alone, Gianna Guiu would never back down.