Quiet Wars

Overwhelming Day

Location: meadow soccer plains, New York, USA

Balls get tossed and passed around the field, the sound of the human birds and the whistles fill the once quiet plain. A group of athletic women run laps around the field, like horses galloping on the race tracks. However one lady stops in her tracks for a breather, panting ,and sweating from the exercise she endured before settling down on the short-cut grass. "Huff-huff-huff, give me a breather would you ladies, huff-huff, got me seeing stadium lights for minute there" she spoke sounding pent out from the run before slipping a towel over her head to wipe the sweat. "Come on Leo-ny [Leonarda] no need to push yourself during exercise, take it at your own pace—no one's stopping you or slowing you whatsoever" assured one of her teammates as she gets a pat to her back. Leonarda can't help but let out a few coughs "—cough, cough—I-i understood that the first time—cough—no need to repeat yourself—cough—" she tried to speak mid coughs, barely being able to mutter a few words. "You always understood it but yet you repeat the same thing over and over again, and I always say the same response, you're acting like your life depends on this sport" the teammate replied with a hint of concern in their tone. "I mean in a way it kinda does, I gave my entire life for it, my entire future to say the least—totally not referencing the fact I dropped out of college just to dedicate myself to this sport" she replied sounding defeated in a way. "I understand that Leo, I can see where you're coming from, but that doesn't mean you have to literally risk your health just to block the ball on the field, you're always pushing it to the extreme not even for show but rather to gain gratification you deeply seek, it feels more like a form of lust in someway or another" she sits besides her hoping to somewhat open Leo's eyes to the matter. "Lust is more of a sexual problem rather than a thirst of gratification, I appreciate the concern hun but I think I'll be fine with how things are, so what if I end up let's say dying on the field from a heart attack?" She casually shrugs off the concern for her "if anything proving the media that I'm one-if not- the best goalies this club could ever have, I'm showing my dedication to that title, like how Canelo Alvarez gained the title of two-time undisputed super middleweight champion" she says trying to sound somewhat justifiably in the eyes of her concern teammate. "That's gotta be the most dumbest excuses I'd ever heard in my 3 years of playing striker" the teammate shook her head in disbelief "well if death is what you're looking for then be it, but don't say I and others didn't warn you Leonarda, you ask for it nicely enough and you get it, now get up and let's get to training, we got a match in a few weeks" they proceed to grab Leo by her jersey collar and pull her up from the ground to start on their training despite the angry pleas coming from her mouth.

Time skip to a few hours after several exercises
*In the heart of the city*

Leonarda is making her way to the nearest subway station, exhausted, and bummed out from the so called "rough exercises" despite doing the easiest of things. She constantly checks her watch to see whether she'll even make it on time to get the last train back to her borough, the anxiety pouring in as the clock ticks each second. "I better make it to that subway on time, I don't have the energy nor care to walk miles worth on foot to my apartment" she muttered to herself in a fit of frustration. "Why must've signed up to this club? It's soo far away from home and it's a pain to catch a train on time or worse if it's packed" she whined as she jaywalks across the street. As she jaywalks across the rather long crosswalk, a speeding car zooms inches away from her, if that wasn't bad/or scary enough, the car zoomed onto a big puddle that was there since yesterday's rain causing it to splash onto her uniform and gear bag. "Oh just fucking great, good job you fuck-face!" She shouts at the speeding away car as she steps onto the sidewalk to squeeze out excess puddle water from her clothes. "Fucking turbo cars I swear- they always find a way to make bad days worse" she muttered angrily as she continues walking to the subway station, but to her disappointment, it was closed down for construction. "—ARE YOU FUCKING SHITTING ME?!?" She yells "¡HIJO DE LA PUTA!" She curses in her native tongue as she kneels to the ground in frustration. "ughhhhh, forget about it, I'm calling a taxi" she steps to the edge of the sidewalk and signals for a taxi, now claiming defeat over the situation. After what feels like hours, a car pulls up to pick her up. She sighs in relief before entering the backseat, making herself comfortable in the vehicle. "What's the address we're heading to ma'am?" Asked the driver who gazes at the back view mirror, adjusting it ever so slightly. "347 evergreen avenue, please, you can leave me at the front of the gates if it's no problem" she replies with a hint of tiredness in her tone. "Alrighty then, I reckon it'll take me—Mmmm—five-minutes minimum" said the driver in a calm manner. "Yeah all- wait how many-" before she could say a word, the driver hits the gas and speeds into the city road without a care, almost like they completely forgot they had a passenger in the back seat, leading to her holding onto the handles above the window like her life depends on it. "HEY! SLOW DOWN WOULD YOU?! I-I DON'T WANT TO DIE BACK HERE!" She shouts in terror while she holds on the handle. "It's okay m'lady, just a few road bumps here and there, plus a hint of velocity, and you'll be home soon in no time" the driver assures her as he proceeds to past more than one red light. "THIS IS ILLEGAL SHIT YOU'RE DOING! I DON'T WANT TO END UP IN A FIVE-STAR CHASE WITH THE COPS!" She pleads mid panic, the thought of her ending up in jail for being in the same car was enough to scare her nearly to death. As she closes her eyes accepting the incoming presences of death itself, the car comes to a sudden halt causing her to be ejected face first onto the backseat of the driver. "We've made it, how's the ride ma'am?—ma'am?" The driver repeats himself after hearing silence from her. "—groan—I rate this drive a two-stars out of five, felt like I was on a fucking jet ski" she said sounding irritated as she slowly adjusts herself before taking out her wallet. "Here's your payment" she said handing over a twenty-dollar bill. "Oh, no need to m'lady, ride is free, just that I wanted to test out this baby on the road, you're welcome" the driver said as he gently pushes the bill back to her. "Oh- uhm- okay then, have a good night man" she replied in a somewhat awkward tone before exiting the car. "Goodnight ma'am" the driver smiles before speeding off into the dark road. As she makes her way inside her apartment, she can't help but collapse in front of her apartment door, feeling too exhausted to even unlock it.

"It's been a long day..."