Chapter 48: Post match
David Jones' sneakers pounded the pavement as the chilly morning air filled his lungs. The rhythmic sound of his footsteps on the quiet Derby street was his only companion. It was the day after the match, and he needed this run—not for fitness, but to clear his head. The memories of the previous evening clung to him like a shadow.
After jogging for what felt like hours, David returned to his modest apartment. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he grabbed a towel and wiped his face. The kitchen was bare, save for a box of cereal and a carton of milk on the counter. With a sigh, he poured himself a bowl and sat at the small dining table.
"I can't keep doing this," he muttered to himself. Now that his paycheck had come in, he made a mental note to visit the grocery store. Living off cereal and whatever the stadium's cafeteria offered wasn't sustainable.
Just as he took a bite, his phone rang. The screen lit up with a familiar name: Mom. A soft smile broke across his face as he swiped to answer.
"Morning, Mum," he greeted, his voice lighter than he felt.
"Morning, my star," Tabitha's warm voice came through the line. "You were incredible yesterday. That run down the flank? Brilliant!"
David's smile faltered slightly. "Thanks, Mum. But—"
Before he could finish, her tone shifted. "How are you?"
The question hung in the air. David's mind drifted back to the match, to the moment everything changed.
The referee's whistle pierced the air. David stepped up to the ball, his heart pounding in his chest. The stadium was silent, the weight of thousands of eyes pressing down on him. He adjusted his stance, focused on the ball, and exhaled.
He struck it with his left foot, the connection crisp. The ball soared over the wall of defenders, spinning with precision. The Bristol goalkeeper leaped, his outstretched fingers grazing the air. Time seemed to stretch as the ball curved towards the top-right corner of the net.
Clang.