Page 1 of Show Me How to Heal
Prologue
Luke
Everythinghurt.
My lungs were burning, the muscles in my legs quivering as I forced them into a sprint.
I didn’t know how long we had left; the only thing I was sure of, based on the state of my body, was that it couldn’t be long until the game ended.
We were tied. Each team had one goal — and since this was the semifinal of theEuropean Championship, there needed to be a winner.
Only one team would move on to the finals.
God, I don’t want to have to play overtime. Please!
I sprinted across the bright-green grass, blocking everything out. There was nothing but the black and white football in front of me. Just a little closer…
My feet made contact with the ball.
Adrenaline flooded my body.
I dribbled on, my eyes focused on the goal ahead of me. In my periphery, I started to notice other players. My teammates. They were positioning themselves to give me the chance to pass.
I kept running forward. I couldn’t pass to Mirko on my right as two red dots were keeping him busy.
But I had to…
There!
Paul was on the other side of the field, completely unguarded.
I abruptly took a turn to the left, passing by a red player who hadn’t anticipated my move.
This was my chance.
Ourchance.
The final.
The peak of my career.
The thing I’d been working for my whole life — playing on the national team in the final of one of the big tournaments. TheEuropean Championship. The only thing better would be theWorld Championship— my next goal after we’d won this one.
I pulled my right foot back, gaining momentum and…
Was hit by a freight train.
Everything went black.
There was no air in my lungs, no air left to breathe out. I dragged in a ragged breath and tried breathing through the agony.
Fuck!
What had happened?
Where was I?
I groaned and opened my eyes.
