Chapter Text
The pain in his ankle, flaring up with almost every movement, was unbearable. It felt as if someone was tearing through his skin and digging deeper, tearing at his ligaments and making every movement even harder. And yet, despite it all, he kept running. Still pushing forward, relentlessly driving the attack.
A small spark of hope still glimmered within him, refusing to go out. Hope that they could still turn the tide of the match and win.
But Leipzig was unyielding. Although the beginning of the match had clearly belonged to them, by the end the determination and superiority of Leipzig's players were palpable. The minutes on the clock seemed to pass faster and faster, and the score on the screen remained unchanged as the end of extra time approached.
The match ended 1-1, and the winner would be decided by penalties.
The pressure weighed heavily on each of them. It wrapped around their shoulders and whispered in their ears, feeding their anxiety, even though everyone tried to hide their fear behind a mask of confidence and determination.
And he stood there too, his head held high, as if everything depended on him - even though there was nothing he could do anymore.
All he could do was stand there and watch his friends fight for victory, waiting for his turn, not knowing that it would never come.
He imagined the summit they could reach if everything went according to plan. The cup shining under the stadium lights, lifted by a dozen pairs of hands, and cheers so loud they would tear their throats apart.
He opened his eyes when the commotion in the stands reached its peak and the stadium filled with joyous noise.
He looked around in confusion. At the fans in white shirts. Then at his teammates, who covered their faces with their red jerseys and patted each other on the back despite the tears.
And suddenly it dawned on him.
They would not be the ones lifting the cup.
And for h
im, that meant the end.