Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King

Over the next few days, preparations for Benjamin's surgery moved quickly.

He had consultations with the doctor who gave him detailed explanations about the procedure, and reassurance from the medical staff.

He had also requested Diane to be his primary nurse since his admission, for obvious reasons. She visited him regularly and was always cheerful around him.

"Are you feeling nervous?" she asked one afternoon.

Benjamin didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the window as sunlight filtered into the room. He had been thinking about the surgery nonstop, about the risks and the what-ifs.

"A little," he admitted, his voice low.

Diane smiled at him warmly. She didn't know why, but she always felt cheerful around him. "That's normal. But you shouldn't worry, the doctors here are some of the best, and they've done this surgery many times before."

Benjamin nodded, though the knot in his stomach didn't loosen. "Yeah, I know. It's just…" He paused, unsure if he could put his thoughts into words. How could he explain that his fear wasn't just about the surgery? It was about everything after.

The uncertainty of ever being the same player again.

She seemed to sense what he couldn't say. "You've been through a lot, Benjamin," Diane said softly. "But you're strong. I'm sure you'll get through this too."

Her words lingered in his mind long after she left the room.

*****

The morning of the surgery arrived sooner than he expected.

Diane came in early. She helped him into a wheelchair, and together, they made their way down the halls of the hospital toward the operating room.

"You'll be just fine," Diane said, squeezing his shoulder as they reached the doors. "I'll be here when you wake up."

Benjamin nodded and gave her a tight-lipped smile.

Inside the operating room, the surgeons were already preparing. The anesthesiologist spoke to him briefly, explaining how the anesthesia would work, but Benjamin barely heard him.

His mind was elsewhere, drifting between memories of his parents, his sister, and the field he loved so much.

The mask was soon placed over his face, and the soft haze of the anesthesia began to pull him under.

***

The first thing Benjamin felt when he woke up was the dull, heavy ache in his leg.

His eyelids fluttered open, and he blinked against the bright light of the hospital room. His body felt weak, as if he had run a marathon in his sleep. The surgery was over.

He tried to move, but the pain in his knee made him stop. It wasn't sharp, more like a deep soreness, but it was enough to remind him that he had just been through something serious.

He groaned softly, shifting his head to the side.

Diane was sitting beside him, reading a magazine. When she heard him stir, she looked up and smiled.

"You're awake," she said gently. "How are you feeling?"

Benjamin blinked, still groggy. "Sore," he mumbled, his voice raspy.

"That's normal," Diane said, setting the magazine aside. "The surgery went well, Benjamin. The doctor will be in soon to explain everything."

He let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. The surgery was over. That part, at least, was behind him now.

Coach Jansen stopped by later that afternoon, his face lined with concern but softened with a small smile when he saw Benjamin awake.

"How's the knee?" he asked, pulling up a chair beside the bed.

"Hurts," Benjamin replied, his voice still quiet. "But they said it went well."

Coach Jansen nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Good. That's the first step. Now comes the hard part."

Benjamin knew what he meant. The surgery was only the beginning. It was the next weeks, the rehab, the grind, that would really test him. He would be starting from scratch, trying to get back to shape.

"I'm ready." he said with certainty.

Coach Jansen smiled slightly, "Good. Because you're going to need that attitude."

Benjamin nodded. He didn't have a choice. If he really wanted to make it back to the pitch, to fulfill the potential that his soon-to-be club saw in him, then he couldn't let anything stop him.

He had to keep pushing, no matter how hard it got.

As the days passed, Benjamin's pain lessened, but the work began almost immediately.

Physical therapists came by to help him with small exercises, teaching him how to move his leg without straining the repaired ligaments. It was slow and agonizing work.

***

Over the next few weeks, Benjamin began doing light exercises and then training in the academy.

One sunny afternoon, Coach Jansen invited him out to a restaurant close to the Harlem Academy grounds. He had something important to discuss, and Benjamin welcomed the change of scenery.

They sat at a small table by the window. Soft conversations filled the restaurant, and the scent of food wafted through the air. Benjamin picked at his plate, not feeling too hungry, while Coach Jansen took a sip of his coffee.

After a few moments of casual conversation about Benjamin's rehab, Coach Jansen leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. His expression shifted, becoming more serious.

"You're going to need an agent soon, Benjamin," he said, his voice calm. "Someone who can handle the legal side of things, manage contracts, and make sure you're protected."

Benjamin paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. He hadn't really thought about that. An agent?

That seemed like something for big-time professionals, not someone like him. He had barely made it through surgery, and now he was thinking about an agent?

"I don't know," Benjamin said, lowering his fork. "Isn't that a bit... too soon? I haven't even recovered fully."

Coach Jansen shook his head. "It's never too soon, especially now that AZ Alkmaar is showing interest. You don't want to be caught off guard when they come to you with paperwork for the contract offer. It's easy to make mistakes if you're not careful."

Benjamin looked down at his plate, his mind turning. Coach Jansen was right, of course. He had heard stories of young players being taken advantage of, signing deals they didn't fully understand, and regretting it later.

"I guess... I wouldn't even know where to start," Benjamin said after a pause. "I don't know any agents."

Coach Jansen smiled. "That's where I can help. My niece, Ashley, just graduated recently. She grew up in America and trained as a sports agent. She's been looking to kickstart her career, and I think she'd be a great fit for you."

Benjamin raised an eyebrow. "Your niece?"

Coach Jansen nodded, leaning back in his chair. "She's smart, driven, and knows the business. Plus, she's new, so she's hungry for success. She'd work hard for you, Ben. I trust her."

Benjamin leaned back, thinking it over. The idea of working with someone new, someone still trying to prove themselves, sounded appealing.

He didn't want a big, flashy agent who had dozens of clients. He needed someone who would be invested in him, someone who would care about his career as much as he did.

But there was still that nagging doubt. "I don't know," Benjamin said slowly. "It just feels... Everything is happening so fast."

Coach Jansen studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I get it. But think of it this way, having an agent will take some of the burden off your shoulders. You can focus on your recovery, on getting back to the field, while Ashley handles the business side. It's one less thing for you to worry about."

Benjamin mulled it over, tapping his fingers against the table. Maybe having someone to help with the legal and contract stuff wasn't such a bad idea.

"Okay," he said finally, nodding. "I'll give it a shot. I'll talk to her."

Coach Jansen's face broke into a smile. "Good. I'll set up a meeting. I think you'll like her."

They soon finished their meal, left the restaurant and stepped into the warm afternoon air, Benjamin felt a spark of determination.

It was time to take control of his destiny, to make sure that everything he had worked for didn't slip through his fingers.