015 | one step at a time

The days were starting to blur together. Time felt both slow and fast, as if her world was stuck in limbo. Gianna's routine had become predictable-physiotherapy in the morning, a quiet afternoon at home, and long nights where she tried to sleep but only tossed and turned in frustration. Her knee was slowly improving, but the pain was still there, lingering beneath the surface, keeping her from feeling like herself.

But Hector's visits had made things easier. He'd been a constant presence-sometimes offering words of encouragement, sometimes just sitting with her in silence while they watched whatever ridiculous movie he could dig up on streaming services. The nights spent talking, laughing, and forgetting about the pain had helped Gianna find some peace, even if it was only temporary.

It was the day of her next physiotherapy appointment, and she was starting to feel a little more hopeful. The last session had gone well, and the therapist had given her permission to try some light jogging in the coming weeks. It wasn't much, but it was a step forward.

As Gianna finished up her breakfast, she heard a knock on her door. She wasn't expecting anyone-except, of course, Hector, who had a habit of showing up unannounced.

She opened the door and was met with Marc Guiu, a wide grin on his face and a soccer ball tucked under his arm.

"Marc!" Gianna said, her voice brightening with surprise. "What's up?"

"Hey, I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by," he said, stepping into her apartment. "I brought you a little something." He tossed the ball to her, and she caught it easily, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"A ball?" Gianna asked, glancing from Marc to the ball in her hands. "I'm not exactly in any shape to play right now, you know."

Marc shrugged, unbothered. "Maybe not, but it's a reminder that you will be soon. Plus, you've been cooped up in here for days. You could use a little distraction, right?"

She smiled despite herself, looking down at the ball. "You're right about that."

Just as she was about to respond, the door creaked open, and in walked Hector, as if summoned by the universe. He flashed a playful grin at Marc. "I'm not sure if I'm impressed or concerned, but I see the ball made it here in one piece."

"Of course it did," Marc said with mock offense. "I'm not that reckless." He gave a teasing glance at Gianna. "Unlike someone who's been sitting on the couch all week."

Gianna rolled her eyes, but her smile didn't fade. "Not all of us can spend every day on the pitch, Marc."

Hector's eyes softened as he walked over to Gianna, standing next to her with a faint smirk. "You know, I wouldn't be mad if you took a few more breaks. We all need to slow down sometimes." He nudged her gently. "And speaking of, you've got physio today, right?"

Gianna nodded, trying to keep her composure. "Yeah, I do. And I'm honestly looking forward to it. I feel like I'm making progress."

Marc raised an eyebrow. "Progress? You've been barely off the couch."

"Yeah, well, I'm following doctor's orders," Gianna said, her tone light but determined. "Besides, they said I can try jogging soon. It's a small step, but it's progress."

Marc gave her a skeptical look. "Jogging? That's not going to be enough for you, is it?"

Hector glanced at Marc with a half-smile. "You might be underestimating how much Gianna needs to fight for the little wins. She's not someone who gives up easily."

Gianna gave Hector a grateful look, appreciating the reassurance. "Exactly. I've still got a lot of work ahead of me. But I know I'll get back out there. I won't let this hold me back."

Marc laughed, shaking his head. "I don't doubt you for a second. You've always been stubborn like that."

Before Gianna could respond, Hector pulled a folded piece of paper out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her. "I know you're going to make it through this. But while you're recovering, we thought you could use a little something to keep your mind occupied."

Gianna unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning the words written in Hector's familiar handwriting. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized what it was.

It was a handwritten list of motivational quotes. Some were famous, others were ones Hector had made up himself. But all of them had one thing in common: they were written for her.

"You've been making these for me?" Gianna asked, her voice cracking slightly.

Hector shrugged, his usual nonchalant smile in place, but there was a hint of sincerity in his eyes. "I figured if anyone needed a reminder that they're capable of more than they think, it's you."

Gianna's throat tightened as she read through the list, each quote speaking to her in a way that felt both personal and powerful. They were a mix of grit and determination, just like her. She could feel the fire in each word.

Marc leaned in to look at the paper. "Nice. I'll admit, that's a pretty solid list of quotes. I might steal a couple for myself."

"Feel free," Hector said, his tone light. "But don't come complaining to me when you start quoting them at the most inappropriate times."

Gianna shook her head, laughing softly. "Thank you, Hector. This... this means a lot."

He gave her a wink. "You deserve it."

Marc let out a dramatic sigh, flopping onto the couch. "You two are making me feel like the third wheel here. Can we get back to the ball?"

Gianna chuckled. "You just like to be the center of attention, don't you?"

Marc raised his hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged. But seriously, let's play a game. I can't stand all this motivational talk; it's making me feel too emotional."

"Yeah, yeah," Hector said, rolling his eyes. "Let's see if your moves on the field are as smooth as your trash talk."

Gianna smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. It was a feeling she hadn't realized she missed until now-the comfort of friends, the laughter, and the shared moments of lightness. Despite the uncertainty of her recovery, despite the challenges ahead, she knew she wasn't alone.

With her knee healing bit by bit and her resolve strengthening each day, Gianna Guiu would make her return. And when that time came, she would do so with more than just skill. She would come back with the support of her team, her family, and her closest friends-her fire ignited once again, ready to show the world what she was capable of.

One step at a time.