FROM FRANCE TO USA

Always believe

The day of Stacy's funeral arrived, a somber cloud hanging heavy in the air. Family and friends gathered to pay their respects, their faces etched with sorrow. Everyone was there, except for Jessie. A pang of disappointment hit me; I had hoped she would be there to support me, but I understood. School commitments couldn't be easily overlooked.

After the ceremony, we all retreated to Chris's parents' house. The atmosphere was hushed, the usual laughter and chatter replaced by quiet whispers and shared memories. I searched for Chris, needing to see her, to offer comfort.

"Hey, Julie, have you seen Chris?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"No, but Tobin's in the kitchen. Maybe she's with her," Julie replied, her eyes filled with concern.

I found Tobin leaning against the counter, a mug of coffee cradled in her hands. "Tobin?"

She turned, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "Yeah, kiddo?"

"Where's Chris?"

"She's outside with her dad and sisters," Tobin said, gesturing towards the back garden. Through the window, I saw them huddled together on a bench, sharing quiet conversation.

"Okay, I'll wait for her here then."

"You're welcome to join them, you know," Tobin offered.

"No, I don't want to intrude on their family time. They need this moment together."

Tobin reached out, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. "I love you, kiddo. Remember that, okay?"

Her words caught me off guard. Tobin wasn't one for grand declarations, but I knew the grief had opened a wellspring of emotion within her.

"I love you too, Tobs," I replied, a lump forming in my throat. "Even though I'm not really a kid anymore."

She chuckled softly. "You'll always be my kiddo."

After a few minutes, Chris came inside, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Hey, sweetheart," she said, her voice surprisingly steady. "Do you need anything?"

"Just a hug," I replied, stepping into her open arms. "And to know that you're okay."

She held me tight, her embrace a silent promise. "I'm okay, Madi. Truly. I know I've been distant lately, but... I'm feeling better now."

I pulled back, searching her eyes for any sign of faltering. But she met my gaze with a newfound strength.

"I'm fine, Madi. I promise."

I nodded, a wave of relief washing over me. "Okay," I whispered, hugging her again. "I'm here for you, always."

—————
Couple days later

The past couple of days had been a whirlwind of emotions. The USWNT roster for the World Cup had been announced,and every single one of my girls had made it, even Kristie, who'd made a remarkable recovery from her injury.

Now, all I could do was wait. Wait for the French roster to drop, hoping with every fiber of my being that my name would be on it.

Three agonizing days later, I was just returning from training when my phone buzzed with an unknown number. My heart skipped a beat.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice shaking slightly.

"Allô, Madison Press?" a woman's voice inquired in French.

"Yes? I mean... oui?" It had been a while since I'd spoken my native language.

"Bonjour, Corinne Diacre, sélectionneuse de l'équipe de France féminine," the voice introduced herself.

My heart hammered in my chest. It was the French national team coach!

"Moi et mon équipe t'observons depuis un bout de temps. Et nous aimerions te compter parmi les joueuses qui participeront à la coupe du monde cet été." (My team and I have been observing you for a while now. We would like to include you among the players who will participate in the World Cup this summer.)

"Vraiment?!" I squealed, barely able to contain my excitement.

"Oui, vraiment! Tu es une excellente joueuse, et je pense que tu vas apporter beaucoup à l'équipe durant cette compétition." (Yes, really! You're an excellent player, and I believe you'll bring a lot to the team during this competition.)

"Wow, je ne sais pas quoi dire. Merci de me faire confiance!" (Wow, I don't know what to say. Thank you for trusting me!)

As soon as I hung up, I erupted into a frenzy of joy, jumping and shouting around my apartment. I had done it! My dream was finally coming true.

Once the initial wave of excitement subsided, I called Chris and Tobin, sharing the incredible news with my two biggest supporters. Then, I excitedly typed a message in the USWNT group chat, my fingers buzzing with energy.

Finally, I tried calling Jessie, but it went straight to voicemail. It had been increasingly difficult to reach her lately. A pang of disappointment hit me, but I brushed it aside. She was probably busy. She'd call back eventually.

For now, I had a World Cup to prepare for.

—————

I was curled up on the couch, engrossed in the final episode of Stranger Things, when my phone lit up with a FaceTime call from Jessie. Annoyance flickered briefly through me; it had taken her days to finally reach out.

"Hey," I said, my voice flat.

"Hi," she greeted me with a sheepish smile. "I'm so sorry I didn't call sooner. There were some... family issues I had to deal with."

"Nothing serious, I hope?" I asked, my irritation softening.

"No, no. Everything's fine now. So... did you want to tell me something?"

A wide grin spread across my face, the earlier annoyance forgotten. "What? Why am I smiling like an idiot?" I teased.

"Oh my god, you did it! You got called up!" Jessie squealed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"I did!" I practically bounced on the couch. "Can you believe it?"

"That's incredible, Madi! I'm so happy for you!"

"Me too," I said, my heart overflowing with joy. "I just wish you were here to celebrate with me."

"Me too," she echoed, a hint of sadness in her voice. "But hey, the next time we see each other, it'll be in France!"

"It's so far away," I pouted.

"It's only a few weeks, Madi," Jessie chuckled. "We'll see each other soon enough."

I nodded, my excitement bubbling over. The World Cup was closer than ever.