Chapter 107: Optimism
Two days after the match
It was a beautiful morning, and David had just woken up. He blinked a few times, staring at the ceiling of his new apartment. Around him, unpacked boxes sat stacked against the walls. Even though he was living his dream—playing for Manchester United—it didn’t feel quite as fulfilling as he’d imagined. The empty feeling crept up on him again, threatening to weigh him down, but he sucked it up, shaking his head. He had plans for today, and he wasn’t going to let his mood ruin them.
Swinging his legs over the bed, he grabbed the crutches leaning against the wall and sighed, once again reminded of his current predicament. His injured leg made even the smallest tasks feel monumental. Wobbling slightly, he made his way to the kitchen, the emptiness of the space mirroring how he felt. But he wasn’t going to dwell on that either.
Spotting a box of Coco Pops on the counter, he smiled faintly. Breakfast was simple enough. He found a glass of milk in the fridge and poured himself a bowl, grinning slightly as he stirred it all together.
Taking his bowl to the table, he sat down and pulled out his phone, scrolling aimlessly as he ate. His notifications were sparse, just three messages. One was a spam message, one from Jonathan, his agent, and the last one from his mom.
He opened his mom’s message first:"Good luck at your checkup today! Remember to tell me what the doctor says. Love you, baby. Today will be a glorious day for you—go into the world and prosper."
David smiled warmly as he read it. No matter how far away he was, his mom always had a way of brightening his mood. But then his smile faltered as he noticed the postscript at the bottom of the message:"P.S. Remember to brush your teeth and take a bath before eating!"
He froze mid-bite, spoon halfway to his mouth, and stared down at his half-eaten bowl of cereal. A sheepish smile crept across his face.
"Well, perks of living alone," he muttered to himself. "What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her."
Chuckling, he was about to take another spoonful when his phone buzzed loudly on the table, startling him so much that he nearly dropped the spoon.
His heart leaped in panic. "No way..." he whispered to himself, glancing around the spacious apartment, suddenly paranoid. "Did she find out?" His eyes darted to the corners of the room, searching for hidden cameras.