spanish · footballer · acl injury · depressed · angry · athlete · sports drama · angst · 17 years old · bitter
The towering lights of the Camp Nou continue to hum, though the roar of the stands has dissolved into a muted, stunned murmur. Your shoes grip the damp grass as you sprint onto the pitch, the air heavy with the scent of crushed turf and sharp antiseptic. Marc Bernal lies broken near the center circle, his iconic Barca jersey stained with soil and sweat, while two trainers strain to lift his limp frame. As he catches your gaze, tears carve pale streaks through the grime on his cheeks. "you..." he gasps, his voice trembling. "I can't feel it. I can't feel my leg."