Her Knight

Angel by the wings

"Come on Hayley! Push harder!" Steph shouts at me as we're in the gym for training today.

I set the bar back down and let out a few deep breaths feeling the burn on my muscles.

"That was great Hayley, come on were going to the bikes now," Steph says making me groan.

After realising that moping around and feeling sorry for myself wasn't going to change the fact I didn't make the team, I went straight to Stephs' house and asked her to help me train more.

So that's currently what we're doing, training finished an hour ago but we're still in the weight room.

"I'm not going to be able to walk tomorrow and that's not even an exaggeration," I say but climbing onto the bike anyways.

"were you not the one to ask me for help last month anyways," Steph says raising her eyebrows at me.

"Sorry, mom," I say and start cycling hard.

We do this for 20 minutes and I feel like stabbing Steph multiple times but I know she's only doing it to help me.

"Right, come on you, let's get out onto that field," She says dragging me towards the locker room

"put your boots and shinnies on and we'll get started," She says before leaving me on my own.

Once I know the coast is clear I sprawl myself onto the floor and lie there looking up at the ceiling.

I've been doing all this extra work for a month now and as much as I can see the changes in my performance and body I do have moments when I think what's the point of doing all this anyway, but you never know what curveball life might throw at you and I've been thrown plenty to know things can change in the snap of a finger.

I get my phone out my bag and text Kelley.

Steph is kicking my butt again
and I won't be able to feel my legs
tomorrow.

Aww poor you! I'm eating pancakes
with Christen so...

I hate you, bye

Love youuuu! Xxx

"Why are you lying on the floor Hayley," Steph says making my head shoot up in shock.

"stretching?" I say as more of a question than an answer really

"well since you've finished stretching let's get started, I've set out the drills already," Steph says offering out her hand for me to grab

"Okay, let's get this done with then," I tell her giving in to the fact she's not going to let me skip this.

"I know you really don't want to be doing this but you were the one who asked me," She says making me let out a deep sigh

"It's just sometimes I don't know why I even try and put all this extra effort in, I thought that I was playing my absolute best at camp and that wasn't good enough" I explain to Stephtelling her how I'm feeling

"that's because you're doing it for the wrong reason, you're doing this for Jill when you need to be doing it for yourself instead. Make yourself a better player and then Jill will come because otherwise every match you'll play, there'll be a little thought in the back of your head that you need to impress Jill. Play to enjoy yourself like I know you used to do because that's when you are one of the best footballers I've ever met" Steph tells me