pitch soaked,leaving behind waste from bins,scattere

s on a pair of boots two sizes bigger than his legsize.Darius's old pair.Torn

etween his knees,hoodie soaked and sticking to

ointing at

t matter what's I put on my f

led."Alrig

rd had spread that coach Pedro from school woul

tching though.

ll in matching kits in south London.Fresh boots,crisp socks.Wayne gave Ethan a nod.Half challenge,Half smirk.Since the recent

des".Wayne call

side".Kobi shot back,mo

immediately.No

it,inst

rinted.but that didn't stop him.He dribbled through gaps that seemed unrealistic,cut past defenders.But everytime he t

ttle bit late,stayed on side

d on the wet pitch and la

ler". Wayne shou

te,stood up a

s.What stuck them was the moment,Ethan with mud attached to his body,nut

ave a slow,im

d walked away,wit

avily."Did you see that?,Pe

ed on Wayne who wiped sweat off his face,j

shop when Darius called out from a bus stop benc

ust gonna walk pass

urning."Didn't

,patted his back."G

than r

and spice hitting them hard.Inside,the humming freezer buzzed like

se my old boots?".Dari

."They're stil

.,You managing th

l fi

d,"You can't

ce en

by today".

faced him."Wh

thi

king.Experienced coaches don

nodded

slower now,"Those boots you're wearing...,

at the crac

remem

od trials.Then Dad walked out,Mum now forced to do doubles,and

till ke

s."But maybe..these boots aren't too big

y.The hallway smelt of floor polish and damp coats.Coach Pedro w

esterday",Pedro sa

.tr

e up,you try.That what differentiates you.But you got hab

d,his stoma

ed up a ba

ll control,sprints,vision drills.Ped

or breath,Pedro walked ove

es

it lo

,coa

e it's oxygen?,L

d,chest hea

ve it,but you need real b

."You don't h

d. "I want to.Don'

ght up with Ethan whil

t still bruised about the nutm

cautious

the academy on the outskirts of

Aren't you the

ut they have open slots

lf offer.Friendship still

hink ab

dded."Yo

,waiting by the corner.Ethan watched him leave,usure

treetlight,Ethan sat on the step

side him,sti

gave you ex

ea

eally uppin

at the stars,s

tting starte

oise,bills,broken things.But on the pitches,Pe

big,spoilt,worn out.But somehow

maybe,he was gr