《Seeing Double》58
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"I guess this is it." I say as we walk towards our locker room at Providence Park.
"You ready?" Kelley asks as she links our arms together.
"No." I say as we walk into the away locker room. "But I have to be."
Today's the NWSL Championship and we're playing Portland again, but this time it's in Portland. The game is also more hyped up since Tobin and I are public so the fans are making it a big deal.
"Damn Astrid." Corsie says as I strip out of my warm up shirt.
"What?" I question.
"Have you seen this yet?" The Scotswoman asks and holds up a magazine.
"Oh yeah." I say when I recognize it's the magazine Kelley and I shot for. "Kelley and I saw it a week ago."
"Did all of you buy one?" Kelley asks causing me to notice everyone in our locker room looking at the magazine.
"Yep." Christen says then she comes over and starts smacking Kelley with a foam roller.
"Ow. Shit. Chris. Why?" Kelley says as Christen hits her in the arm.
"Why. Didn't. You. Tell. Me. You. Could. Sing?" Christen says after each smack.
"It never came up." Kelley pouts and rubs the spot Christen hit while I put on my green keeper jersey.
Laura gathers everyone's attention and she does her team talk then the starters and I head to the tunnel and I get in my spot behind Becky since she's our captain. A couple seconds later we head onto the field to do the prematch ceremony stuff then we shake hands with the Thorns.
"Good luck Boo Bear." I say with a smile as I shake Tobin's hand.
"You to Beautiful." Tobin says then she moves down the line.
"Aww." I hear Kelley says as we shake hands with the ref.
Becky and Sinclair do the captains stuff then the back line heads to our positions and a couple seconds later the game kicks off.
In the 10th minute one of our midfielders gives the ball away to Lindsey. Lindsey immediately turns toward my goal and sees one of the forwards sprinting towards goal so she sends the ball towards her. As I watch the ball fly towards me I realize the forward won't get to it so I run out to get it and when I get to the penalty spot I jump up to get it, which I do.
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Right as I grasp the ball, the forward, who I know recognize as Purce, slams into my legs which causes me to fall to the ground in a heap.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me." I mumble into the stupid turf.
"REF THAT'S A RED." Someone from my team yells as I get to my knees.
While I'm sat on my legs I look at the ref and hold out my hands.
"There's no way she's getting to that." I say. " She's just trying to injure me so that's either a really hard yellow or a red."
The ref gives us a free kick and she gives Purce a yellow which draws a lot of angry reactions from my teammates.
"Gunny." I say and motion the Iceland native to me.
"Yeah?" Gunny says.
"Go stand by Purce." I say and Gunny looks at me in a confused manner. "Just trust me."
Gunny nods and jogs over to Purce as I lineup the free kick then once the whistle blows I drill the ball straight at Purce. The Thorn attacker gets hit in the stomach and falls to the ground for a second then she tries to get the ball, but fortunately Gunny collected the ball and start running up field.
Nothing comes of the attack which sucks.
In the 20th minute the Thorns get a corner so I prepare for Tobin's cross. Once the whistle blows Tobin drills a ball to the top of the box and right to Sinclair. The Canadian brings the ball down out of the air then she fires the ball straight towards me and it hits my side.
When the ball connects with my side I scream out in pain then I grab the ball.
I rise to my feet and throw the ball out of bounds then I swiftly walk towards the bench.
"Astrid what's wrong?" Kelley asks.
"Get the EMT's." I say and Kelley sprints into the locker room.
I continue walking towards the bench.
"Baby?" Tobin says and walks next to me. "What's wrong?"
I try to speak, but a sharp pain in my side causes me to scream out in pain then I collapse into Tobin's arms.
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"Get me to the EMT's." I say and Tobin nods.
"BECKY." Tobin shouts and a few seconds later Becky comes over and wraps an arm around me.
The two women help me to the sideline then lay me on the waiting gurney. The EMT's then start wheeling me towards the ambulance.
"What..." One of the EMT says, but I cut her off.
"I had surgery on my kidney back in August and I felt something pop in that general area when the ball hit me." I say.
"Alright." The EMT says as they load me into the ambulance
Once the ambulance doors are shut I pass out from pain and when I wake up I'm surrounded by doctors
The doctors tell me what's going on and once they leave to prep the OR I grab my phone and text Tobin to let her know what's going on then I look up at the ceiling.
"Fuck my life."
- - - - -
Hurry up Hurry up Hurry up Hurry up Hurry up Hurry up Hurry up
"Tobin slow down." Kelley says and pulls on my shirt
"How are you not more worried?" I ask as we stand at midfield in Providence Park.
"I am." Kelley says. "But worrying about it is only gonna make it worse and you're gonna worry yourself into a hospital bed right next to my twin so be normal Tobin and chill the fuck out."
"Tobs we gotta get our medals." Lindsey says.
We won, but who the fuck cares.
"Fine." I mumble then follow the girls onto the podium.
We get our medals and lift the trophy then the team celebrate for a little bit then we head into the locker room to shower and change into our street clothes before we head to the hospital or out to celebrate
Once I'm changed I grab my phone to see if I missed anything during the game.
"Astrid texted me." I say.
"Hold on." Sonnett says then she runs out of the room.
"Where's she going?" Raso asks.
"UTAH GIRLS." Sonnett yells. "TOBIN GOT A TEXT FROM ASTRID SO IF YOU WANNA HEAR THEN MOVE YOUR BUTTS TO OUR LOCKER ROOM."
A moment later a butt load of women come streaming into our locker room.
"Well read it then." Kelley says.
"Hey Boo Bear. Something happened with my kidney and they have to remove it. They're about to take me back to do emergency surgery on it. I love you and I'll see you when I wake up." I read then I look at the Utah girls. "When is she gonna get a fucking break."
"Can we ride with you to the hospital?" Becky asks.
I nod and tell all the Utah girls where to me once they're showered. The Utah girls disappear for a few minutes while the Portland national team girls and I grab our stuff then head out to the tunnel to meet Alex and Mal, who were here to watch their significant others. Once the Utah national team girls Alex, and Mal get to the meeting spot we head to my car, put all our bags in the back of the car then we start heading to the hospital.
"Mom?" Kelley questions when she gets a phone call. "Okay...yeah we're on the way...Waiting room 5 got it...love you too...Bye."
"You're parents came to the game?" Mal questions.
"They wanted to see Astrid play her last game ever." Kelley says.
"What did they tell you?" Alex asks.
"Astrid just got taken back for surgery and it'll be three or four hours before the surgery is over." Kelley says making me sigh.
When is Astrid going to catch a break?
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