It all started in the 2019 World Cup, in France. It was the first time I had been called up to such a big tournament with Australia.
I wasn't supposed to be in the team but unfortunately Laura Alleway had an injury so they called me to replace her.
At first it was hard getting into that New position but once I got the hang of things I was completely comfortable with being a defender. With the hang of things and having Steph Catley helping me we were looking solid as a team. We had a lot of confidence going in to the first game but Italy surprised us and it was all my fault. I couldn't defend the Italian player well so I knew it was my fault. We lost that game. After it ended I just went to the locker room, not wanting to talk to anyone, I had my head down I didn't want to talk to the press so I just ignored them I had just cost my team our first win. Once inside the locker room I just sat in my locker just looking at the ground I knew that at least Steph and Mackenzie were trying to come talk to me but I also knew that they weren't going to ignore the press so I had a little more alone time.
Or so I thought, a minute or two after I took my shirt off Ellie came in clearly looking for me. She came in crouching down in front of me and grabbing my chin "It's okay, we can come back from this. It was not your fault" I saw in her eyes that she meant it but I couldn't believe it, it was my fault. I was told to watch number 19 I could feel my eyes fill up with tears "But it was my fault Ellie, coach told me to watch her and I didn't" I could tell my voice was trembling and I felt a tear start falling but she was quick to wipe it off "Look at me" I sigh and then looked her in the eye "It was not your fault. We didn't have a good game in general as a team. It was not your fault" I knew she was telling the truth. I nodded even though a part of me was still saying it was my fault. She caresses my cheek before hugging me "We'll come back from this one" I nod against her shoulder as the rest of the team starts coming into the locker Mackenzie and Steph both give me a look that tells me that they don't think is my fault and I just look back at them knowing they can read me.
After that came the game against Brazil. Ellie and I grew closer after the Italy game. The game was hard. It was the 66 minute and the game was tied, I send a cross in for Sam but a Brazilian player ends up putting it in the back of the net. I see Ellie come running at me so I catch her when she jumps up.
After the hugs and getting into position we see the Brazilian players talking to the referee because annarentlv Sam was offside. We all get scared when she decides to go see the var, while she's checking I feel Ellie grabbing my hand "It's okay we got this" I look at her and nod "We got this" I say a little more louder so the rest of the girls hear me. We see the referee signal that it wasn't offside and I smile big. f
We ended up winning that game, now it was time for Jamaica. In the bus ride back to the hotel I sit with Ellie, she smiles before kissing my cheek "Told you we had it" I smile "You were right".
When it was time for the game against Jamaica we were super confident we had just won against
Brazil. We ended up winning 4-1.
I smile after talking to the press about the game we just won and quickly walk back to the locker room.
We all start talking happily we were going to the round of sixteen.
And then it was heartbreak, the game against Norway. We thought we could do it after Elise goal but we lost in penalties. I try to not cry and I see Ellie go to sit on the bench so I sit next to her and let her cry on my shoulder "It's okay" I whisper and pull her closer "It's okay".
After the heartbreak of being eliminated of a world cup we end up visiting Paris and that's when Ellie tells me she likes me, when she does I just smile before giving her a kiss.
