Sentimental offside

stood at half-court, eyes darting across the unfamiliar setup. The Red Star women's team, clad in white and crimson training gear,

here for ba

e of being too much-too loud, too

p!" someo

dden

s of the bleach

ng at the temples. A scar ran subtly along his ja

o Vu

man who, according to Google, had once thrown a chair mid

one used to commanding atte

ned the group, then se

smi

n

th

e, like a soldier evaluating

the accent thick but authoritative. "You are here to win.

e swept

on't care what language you speak. Her

fists. Her Frenc

before. But this... this was w

d, pointing s

inked.

're

utes early," she replie

. Your eyes, not focused. Your feet, too heavy. You

r. Lana, the tall, blonde team

he air had changed, thick

laps

ha

brow. "Or you

ne m

eammates. Not a singl

i

g around the court. Each step was a s

Marko's eyes on

minutes

il

ila kept up-barely-but her movements weren't perfect. Her m

e hesitated for a split second, and

e whistle. Sh

toward h

ga

She reset, this time exe

ga

repe

ga

s, until her legs burned an

he turn

was

"better." Just

much she wante

om. After

le

sat on the bench, unwrapping her ankle t

drop balls like that, or only

chuc

o drop one and learn than to p

smile v

d w

sky

that e

m-like apartment provided by the club.

s in, but the music couldn't block o

t belong

t. But

r mom, Fatou, taken back home in their cramped kit

on't come back defea

– Belgrade

ripped tightly in his trembling hands. Explosions th

Nikola, calm, steady, mouthed

nd you'll have to find somethi

red the silence

nf

didn't

ust

sent – Coac

oster. Mila Touré. Born 2006. France. Positio

uld cu

sho

. Too raw. To

her eyes-it wa

s sur

afford distractions. He wouldn't be that

da

l had so

ing da

Mor

ed first t

pt

le

d again. Her breathing synced with the bounce

t h

the

ty minutes

tu

the doorway,

't say

wat

rned an

t-maybe, just maybe-that his foots

. Later

w dr

lled Mil

one t

this one

ooked

unsure if she'

stepped

bbl

ss

ugh the

h

is

didn't

t blow the w

mehow, me

f Cha

_______