NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Good Times
Benjamin woke up the next day with a sense of renewed hope.
As he sat up, his eyes drifted to his left leg, still bound by the brace but feeling significantly better than it had in months. It wasn't perfect yet, but the pain was becoming more manageable.
He flexed his foot, testing the movement.
The doctors had told him it would take time, but somehow, he felt he was healing faster than anticipated. A few more weeks, and maybe he'd be free of the brace altogether. The thought filled him with quiet satisfaction.
After bathing and getting dressed, Benjamin decided to go for a light jog. It had become part of his daily morning routine, slow, careful movements to keep his body active while avoiding putting too much strain on his recovering leg.
Outside, the air was crisp, with a light breeze carrying the smell of fresh grass. Benjamin loved this time of the morning, when the world was still waking up. It was peaceful, and in that stillness, he could clear his mind.
As he started his jog, he kept his pace slow, focusing on the rhythm of his breathing. His left leg still felt stiff, and he could only jog in short bursts before needing to slow down to a walk.
But each time, he pushed just a little further than the last, anxious to regain his strength faster. After about twenty minutes, he returned to the house, feeling accomplished despite the sweat trickling down his face.
Once inside, he spread out a mat on the living room floor and moved into a series of yoga poses. The stretches helped loosen his stiff joints, especially in his legs and back.
Yoga had been a recommendation from his physiotherapist during his stay at the Spaarne Gasthuis, and while Benjamin had initially been skeptical, it had worked wonders in helping him regain his flexibility.
The poses also gave him a sense of calm, something he desperately needed after everything that had happened.
The sound of dishes clinking in the kitchen drew his attention, and a small smile tugged at his lips. Anna, the maid, was busy preparing breakfast.
Over the last few months, he'd grown closer to her. She had a way of making things feel normal, and their random conversations throughout the day had become something Benjamin looked forward to.
"Good morning, Anna," he said as he entered the kitchen.
"Good morning, Benjamin," she replied, glancing over her shoulder with a warm smile. "How was your run?"
"Not bad," he said, grabbing a glass of water. "I think I'm getting the hang of it again."
"That's good to hear," Anna said, her smile widening as she set two plates on the table. "Breakfast is ready. Nothing too fancy, just eggs and toast."
Benjamin nodded, appreciating the simplicity. He quickly washed up again and cleanse himself of accumulated sweat.
After that, they ate together, talking about trivial things like how the weather was warming up, the random things she had seen outside, and what she planned to do for the rest of the day.
It was easy to talk to Anna. She didn't pry, didn't try to make him open up about the accident or his feelings and Benjamin was grateful for that.
After breakfast, Benjamin spent some time doing ball work in the backyard. His dad's small training area was a godsend, and he used it daily.
He practiced light dribbles, rolling the ball gently with his right foot, careful not to overexert his recovering left leg.
He used this opportunity to get more familiar with his right foot, to prevent situations where his left foot wouldn't be able to unleash his full potential due to the injury.
It was slow going, but it felt good to have a ball at his feet again. Even just standing with the ball and flicking it around gave him a sense of purpose.
Football was his life, and he wasn't going to let anything whether accident or injury take that away from him.
Later in the evening, just as Benjamin was finishing his afternoon routine, he heard a knock on the door. It was Coach Jansen.
"How's my star player doing?" Coach Jansen asked as he stepped inside, giving Benjamin a once-over.
"Better than yesterday," Benjamin replied, unable to suppress his grin. "I think I'll be rid of these braces soon."
"That's great news!" Coach Jansen clapped him on the shoulder. "You've made incredible progress."
They sat in the living room, and the conversation naturally shifted to football, as it always did when Jansen was around.
Benjamin missed these talks. The easy back-and-forth about tactics, players, and matches.
For a while, they reminisced about some of Benjamin's best games at the academy, the goals he had scored, the matches he had turned around with his speed and skill.
It was nice to think about those good times, but it also reminded Benjamin of what he still had to reclaim.
"You know," Coach Jansen said after a while, leaning back in his chair, "there's a big match on tonight, Portugal versus the Netherlands. It's the UEFA Euro 2012. Thought we could watch it together."
Benjamin's eyes lit up. "Yeah, I'd like that."
They settled in front of the television just in time for the match to start.
Benjamin hadn't watched a live game in months, and as the teams lined up on the pitch, the familiar rush of excitement washed over him.
For a moment, he forgot about his injury, forgot about the accident, and just focused on the game.
The match was intense from the start, but it was Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the show. Benjamin couldn't take his eyes off him.
The way Ronaldo moved, his speed, his techniques, it was like watching a master at work.
Every touch of the ball seemed to have intent, every run of his easily bypassed his markers. Although, he was a citizen of the Netherlands, he still couldn't help but appreciate good football.
Netherland took the lead early in the 11th minute but a few minutes later, in the 28th minute, Ronaldo found the back of the net with a perfectly low placed shot.
Ronaldo received a brilliant long pass from João Pereira. He timed his run perfectly, staying onside, and after controlling the ball with composure, he fired a low shot past Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg into the bottom corner.
"He's something else, isn't he?" Coach Jansen commented, clearly impressed as well.
"Yeah," Benjamin muttered, his gaze still fixed on the screen. "He's… incredible."
The match continued, and Ronaldo's dominance only grew. In the 74th minute, he scored again extending Portugal's lead, this time with a brilliant counterattack.
Ronaldo was set free on the left side after a pass from Nani. He dribbled past the Dutch defense and calmly slotted the ball into the net, again beating Stekelenburg.
Benjamin watched in awe as Ronaldo celebrated, his arms raised triumphantly.
There was no doubt in Benjamin's mind, Ronaldo was the best player on the pitch by far. It was players like him who inspired millions, who made people believe in the impossible.
Watching him reminded Benjamin of why he had fallen in love with football in the first place.
"That's the dream, isn't it?" Coach Jansen said quietly, glancing at Benjamin. "To be out there, on the international stage, winning matches and dazzling the world."
Benjamin nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. That had always been his dream, to play beautiful football, to become a legend like Ronaldo, to win individual awards, and to leave his mark on the game.
Despite everything that had happened, that dream hadn't changed. If anything, it was stronger now.
After the match, Anna called them for dinner. As they sat at the table, the usual light chatter filled the room. But Benjamin couldn't help but notice that Coach Jansen seemed distracted, his mind elsewhere.
"What's wrong, Coach?" Benjamin asked, setting down his fork.
Coach Jansen hesitated for a moment, clearly debating whether or not to say what was on his mind. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "I've got good and bad news. Which one would you like to hear first?"
Benjamin felt a lump form in his throat. He wasn't sure where Coach Jansen was going with this, but the coach's tone made him nervous.