Saving The Day

43

"Shit" I curse out, and attempt to get up if my shoulder let's me. Which was granted, considering the pain was starting to go away. Kelly, and Becky stand in front of me

"You okay?" Becky asks me, and I nod. I pat Kelly's shoulder as they walk back to Mark, Crystal had kicked it out of bounds for safety. The play is stopped, they want to check VAR. I guess it looked like it went into goal before I threw it out.

The ref comes back, and declares it didn't go in. I let out a breath I didn't remember I was holding, I had hoped that the dive worth it and it was. USA fans cheer, as the announcer tells everyone it was not a complete goal.

My shoulder seemed fine through the first half so far after the dive. Just to make things better, Alex scored in 31st min, I felt so much confidence after both goals. I have a feeling we're going to win, but I know one thing.. I don't think I can play in the final. Dawn meets with me at my cubby, handing me an ice pack. I put it on my shoulder.m, and lean back in my chair. I feel comfort in this locker room, considering this is where we change during club games. No one is currently sitting at my club locker, can't believe I'm playing my last season already. Time's going by too fast.

Jill starts talking, and everyone else settles down to listen.

"Holly you took a pretty nasty fall earlier, you doing okay?" I give her a thumbs up, and she takes the answer. She tells to press harder on heavy touches with England. I kinda zone out, because my arm is starting to feel stiff. I ignore the feeling. Once halftime is over, I hand the ice pack to Dawn on my way out.

"Let's goo!!" I scream in the tunnel, and I catch a glimpse of Lucy chuckling about my antic. I send her a light smile, only because we are still technically against each other. Some of my club teammates show me a concern look, and I reassure them I'm fine but yelling. Making other look at me, and we bust out laughing.
I take my jacket off again and hand it too Sonnett. She's like always taking care of my stuff, we never comment on it but she... like worships me.. and Becky.. and kelly.

"Let's goo!" I scream again, and the fans sitting in front of us cheer and scream too. Some of them are England Fans.

"Gee dude, you should be a drill Sargent" Sonnett tells me frighten, with her fingers in her ears. I ruffle her hair before I take a sip from my bottle, drinking what's left of it. I put it back on the caddy, and I walk to goal. My shoulder feels weird, but I start stretching it out. I don't feel anything unless I swing uncomfortable around. I probably just strained it a little, right?
(...boy was I wrong)

In the 66th min, Ellen receives a cross making me dive once again. I reah out and grab it as I hit the ground but I get back up. When I retrieve back, I start to get a pain in my left shoulder. White was called offsides, so I place the ball where she had received the cross. I kick it up to midfield.

In the 78th min, Becky had slight contact with Ellen White in the box. As VAR checks, I walk to becky, who looks not disappointed but also not happy.

"Hey you did what you had to do, it's okay" I comfort her, and she nods as she fixes her headband. It's almost been a min on the decision but knowing VAR.. it's going to be a penalty. Luckily I freshed up on Penalty kicks during this tournament on every team we played.

(Be aware the events will be different)

The referee signals for a penalty as she jogs back to us, and the arena cheers. The English sound very pleased I see. She holds up a yellow card at Becky, who respectfully nods. The ref makes her way to me, and tells me the rules on penalties. I can't come off early in my line, you know. She walks away, and I get prepared for this. Steph walks up, and places the ball on the penalty spot.

"Come on" I tell myself, as my shoulder throbs with pain. The adrenaline corsing through my veins making it slightly bearable. I look at her, and only her.. like nothing else in the world matters but what is in front of me.

The ref blows the the whistle, Houghton runs up and kicks it high left. I push up, jumping up and catching it. Coming down to the ground, and my shoulder finally gave it all it could. I feel my clavicle tear, and it hits me instantly. I roll on to my stomach with the ball in my hands. I saved the penalty, but now the referee blows the whistle for the AT to come over. Letting the ball come from under me, and the medical staff telling the girls to back up so they can look over me. They help adjust myself up right, and check my shoulder. The part of my clavicle was poking out within my skin

"You're collarbone is dislocated, I'm sorry Holland but we have to take you off" he tells me, and I nod sadly. I can see it their eyes, they don't want to tell me but I know this was my last game in a World Cup ever. They help me up with my good arm, well it's not good either but it's definitely doing better then the left. The other guy helps me hold my hand around my stomach for support. When we get to the sidelines, I let everything out, I cry in frustration. I look at Jill, she's already looking at me sadly. I see Ash walk up to the officials.. at least she'll get playing time. She deserves it more.

They take me to the locker room, where they have a table with first aid kits resting on for preparation. I hop on, and Dawn walks over to me. Already crying out of anger, she cups my cheek.

"You can rest now kiddo" she tells me, and I let a tear slip. I lay my head down on a pillow they brought me. One of them comes back with a sling, and some pain killers. While they wait for the ambulance to show up, because they need a cat scan, because it could be worse then it looks. When they arrive, there's only 5 mins left in the game but I wasn't given time to see my teammates celebrate. The paramedics put me in a gurney, and Dawn comes with me to the hospital. I feel my eyes heavy, I look over to Dawn who's on the phone probably with Jill or Tony.

................................................

"Miss Holland Reed, you have a severe shoulder sprain that will require a surgical procedure" the translator tells me, as the French doctor stops talking.