Your life has been a rollercoaster ride ever since you met Auston. Knowing him since his days in Zurich, Switzerland, when he played for the ZCS Lions in the Swiss National League A, you became fast friends. Maybe one of the reasons for your chemistry was also you didn't know who he was. To you, he was only a baby-faced American guy with infectious laugh and wicked sense of humor. Eventhough you have only known him since August 2015, you two shared a lot of history. He was the new guy in Zurich, Switzerland, your home town and you were a student at University of Zurich, occasionally watching hockey, but never putting too much of your energy into cheering or attending the games. Your eyes were set on one goal and one goal only – to get a degree, finish the university with stellar grades and get a job as a translator in a big company. You have always loved languages and have known since you were a kid where you want your life path to take you.
And then this brown haired American came along. And somehow, you ended up becoming his translator. Not that he needed your help, pretty much everyone knew at least a bit of English. But you were only told a young American needs your assistance with every day conversations. They didn't tell you who he was and you didn't care, as long as that would look good in your resume.
After spending some time with him, he finally told you why he moved to Switzerland. Then all those times when he didn't have time or didn't pick up the phone finally made a lot of sense, he was at the practice. And was not here to study aboard as he told you when you first met him.
~~
"I can't believe you are going back," you sigh on his last day in Switzerland. Early June sun is shining through the curtains of his room, which has been his home for the last year. He was staying with one of his older teammates and his family, having a father figure and someone to help him keep his feet firmly on the ground all this time.
He doesn't stop packing his bags and replies with his back turned to you: "Well, it has been a good experience, but I can't wait to be back. And this time...I hope I proved myself enough to really make it to the NHL."
"I know it's the biggest league, but is actually every player's dream to play in the NHL? I mean, it brings money and all, but is it worth it?"
"It is. Believe me, it is."
You lean on the wall and look at him again. He has grown in the past year. From a shy boy he turned into a confident young man. Which you will probably never see again when he boards his plane and leaves Europe.
"Listen, Rebecca,..." he finally puts down a t-shirt he was holding in his hands and turns to you. He smiles softly: "I wouldn't be here without you. I would probably just go to the ice rink, practice, then go home. But you helped me. Introducing me to your friends, showing me around...hell, having patience to teach me German."
"Well, your German still sucks, so I wasn't that successful."
"You are probably right. But you were there for me, all along, translating everything for me. And it took me some time to find a perfect thank you gift. Which we could also call a goodbye gift..."
He hands you an envelope. With your brow slightly crooked in curiosity, you take it and spin it in your hand. He watches you as you do that and speaks up slowly: "Y'know, you have to open it to see what's inside."
"I know. I just don't know whether I want to open it. It would make your departure, our last goodbye, so...final."
He shakes his head: "Please, open it. Don't make it harder, Becky."
Hours later on the same day you find yourself at the airport, clenching the envelope with his gift in your hands. Ever since you have received it, everything has flown by in a blur of voices, colors and sights. Only at the airport you realize this is it, that he is really leaving his life in Switzerland behind, flying back to the States. Leaving you behind.
It's not hard for you to see his figure, especially with his giant hockey bag and all of his sticks in his hands.
"Auston!" you hear yourself call his name and see him turn around to face you. As soon as he sees you, he smiles wide, but you don't smile back. You can't force your muscles into curving into a smile. You pace up and shove the envelope under his nose: "Would you mind telling me what is this all about?"
For a split second he seems too shocked to answer. His words are quiet when he finally speaks up: "I thought...you would like that."
"I do. It's just...why did you do that? Why did you buy me a plane ticket when we both know you don't have enough money to buy plane tickets left and right?"
"That's simple. You accepted me, guided me around, spent your time comforting me and listening to my concerns. Draft is an important step in every hockey player's career and I really wish to have you there with me. I would love to see you and my family there."
"You want me to travel to Buffalo to be there with you?"
"Yes. I know it will be difficult for both of us if I get drafted, but you said you have never been to America and that would be a great opportunity for you..."
~~
His words and pleading eyes convinced you. And you would feel guilty for saying no to his goodbye gift. You would feel bad for a few reasons: first of all, rejecting something you know is valuable to him. Not to mention, you felt honored he wanted you to be there for him. And lastly, you have never been to the States and it has been your dream to travel overseas.
However, if he gets drafted, he will never come back to Switzerland. You wish him all the best, but at the same time... you fear he could forget about his life in Europe.
As soon as you told your parents about Auston's gesture, they bought their own plane tickets to Buffalo and reserved a hotel. Eventhough they support your independence, letting you fly off to Buffalo on your own seemed to be a too big and risky step. Many people your age would be upset and pissed to spend time with their parents, but you actually feel safer to know they are there for you and they didn't let you dip into an unknown all by yourself. Not that they don't trust Auston, it's actually quite the opposite, but they have never been that kind of parents to just let their daughter travel half way across the world because of a guy.
"When is the draft?" your dad asks a day before the big event. You look at him from your computer: "In the evening. Auston will call me when him and his parents start from their hotel."
"Do you need a lift back or will they bring you to the hotel?"
"They will. Dad, no need to worry. Enjoy the dinner with mom tomorrow, I know you rarely have a chance to go anywhere. I will be fine, I promise."
~~
Before the draft starts, you glance around the crowded arena and turn to Auston, who is sitting next to you, his hands clenched tightly together. You put your hand on his and gently squeeze it: "Don't worry, if they don't pick you in first round, they don't know anything about hockey."
"You are just being nice...some of those guys are great players, I don't know if I can compete against them."
"You can. You are a great player."
Now he squeezes your hand and smiles at you: "Thank you for coming here and being with me."
When they turn off the lights in the arena, Auston's hand remains wrapped around yours. At the same time, you feel a lump forming in your throat. Everything is now becoming a reality. You lean to Auston and whisper: "I-I am scared..."
You don't see his face clearly, but you can sense worry in his eyes. And hear it in his voice: "What's wrong?"
"I...Spending time with you was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. And I don't know, I fear you might forget all that when you make it to the NHL..."
He leans down to you and kisses your cheek. His lips are close to your skin as he whispers: "That will never happen. I won't forget my life in Switzerland."
"I have heard how this story unveils. The player leaves his past behind, forgets about his friends and family, lives his superstar life and never looks back."
"Becky...after a year of knowing me, you still think that low of me?" he sounds broken. Disappointed you would ever think anything like that of him. But you had to share your feelings with him. After all, once he gets drafted, he will travel to where his new team is, sign big contract, while you will fly back to Switzerland and live your life as nothing ever happened. As you never met a hockey player and formed a close friendship with him.
"I heard stories of how it goes, Auston."
"I promise this is not what will happen with us. I won't forget living in Europe. And I won't forget you."
He squeezes your hand again and gives you time to think of his words. Thoughts are racing through your head so fast you barely keep up with them and you don't even realize what has been going on around you. You don't see Mark Hunter, Toronto Maple Leafs' director player personnel take the stage and you barely hear him call the name of the first draft pick.
"Toronto is proud to announce from Zurich Schlttschuh Club Lions, Switzerland, Auston Matthews."
Cheering of the crowd drags you out of your daze and you feel Auston get up next to you. But before he does that, he quickly squeezes your hand. He hugs his family before walking to the stage to accept the draft cap and the jersey. With slightly teary eyes you observe him hug his father, knowing how much effort has been put into getting Auston where he is now – effort from himself and his family.
After accepting his jersey and a cap, he returns to his seat and hugs his parents again, their embrace tight. You notice tears in his parents' eyes, as well as in his. When he gets to you, you stand up and hug him tight: "Congratulations, Auston. I am really proud of you."
"Thank you. Without experiencing life in Switzerland, I don't know if I would be here."
"You would. Believe me. And you have great future ahead of you," you pull away from him and force yourself to look up at his eyes.
"I promise you, Becky, no matter where I end up playing, I won't forget Switzerland. And most importantly, I know you were thinking of that, I won't forget you."
"How did you know?"
"You didn't have to ask, the question was in your eyes all this time. And in a way how you were forming sentences."
He takes both of your hands in his: "I won't forget my life in Europe and I won't forget you, that's what I promise."
"What about injuries? Auston, NHL is much tougher..."
"Don't worry, I will be okay."
"What about career ending injuries? Concussions? Broken bones?"
"Becky, it wouldn't be the first time and it wouldn't be the last as well. You are worrying too much."
"I don't want you to be hurt."
He chuckles and sits you down, then takes a seat himself. He wraps his arm around your shoulder: "Please, don't worry. You have seen me play and take some hits. And believe me, they won't let me play until I am in the best shape."
"You make it sound so easy. Auston...I know you said you won't forget your life in Switzerland...but I am going back home tomorrow and you are travelling to Toronto. I know I never said a word..."
He cuts you off by kissing you softly, leaving you speechless when he pulls away. When you look at him, he smiles shyly: "You didn't have to. We have Skype, email, WhatsApp and every other available social media."
"What about other girls? And girls you meet on away games?"
"Rebecca, don't worry about it, okay? We are going to make it work."