Dawson clapped Leo on the back as the session wound down, wiping his own brow with the back of his hand.
"Good work today. I can see you're starting to get the hang of it. Keep your head in the game, alright?"
Leo nodded, his body aching from the intense session, but there was something else stirring within him—a sense of purpose.
Dawson's words had sparked something.
This wasn't just about learning to pass a ball; it was about controlling his future, about making it on his terms.
"Remember," Dawson continued, stepping away, "we've got two weeks. Don't let up. You'll get better every day."
Leo watched as Dawson packed up the small cones and training equipment, ready to leave.
As the assistant coach turned and headed toward his car, Leo remained on the pitch, still catching his breath.
He glanced around, the quiet evening settling in around him.
The small neighborhood field looked different now.
The goalposts seemed more than just metal bars—they were markers, symbols of the aspirations he was now chasing.
"Two weeks," Leo muttered to himself.
The pressure was on, but for the first time, he didn't feel overwhelmed. He felt ready.
He had to deliver.
He wasn't going to let the same doubts, the same insecurity, hold him back anymore.
Leo jogged over to the far sideline where a bag of footballs sat, untouched.
He grabbed one and dribbled it back to the center of the pitch, his mind already working, formulating his next steps.
He placed the ball down, adjusted his stance, and started a series of quick passes against the rebound net.
Left foot, right foot. One-touch, two-touch.
He focused on making the ball come back to him at the right height and speed, just as Dawson had shown him.
With every touch, Leo felt the rhythm, the flow of the game.
It wasn't perfect—not by a long shot.
A few passes were off, a few too slow, others slightly too heavy.
But the difference was, for the first time, Leo could see it. He could feel the potential.
He wasn't just practicing now.
He was refining—working on the nuances of his touch, the weight of his passes, the decisions before and after he played the ball.
The evening stretched on.
The golden light of the setting sun cast long shadows across the pitch, but Leo barely noticed.
His mind was consumed with the game, the movements, the potential he was just beginning to realize.
After another half hour, Leo stepped back, breathing hard but feeling satisfied.
The sweat was still dripping down his face, but he wiped it away and nodded to himself.
He wasn't going to waste a second.
As he packed his bag and walked off the pitch, Leo felt a rare sense of confidence, one that hadn't been there before.
He didn't know exactly what the next two weeks would hold, but he knew one thing for sure—he was going to give it everything he had.
..........
Leo opened the door to their small apartment, the faint smell of something baking wafting in from the kitchen.
Mia was humming softly as she moved about, setting the table, while Sofia stood by the counter, chopping vegetables for dinner.
"How'd it go?" Sofia asked, looking up from her task.
Her eyes were soft, searching, though her face carried that calm, protective look Leo knew well.
She was always watching out for him.
Leo dropped his bag onto the floor with a thud, his exhaustion creeping in but his excitement still bubbling just below the surface.
He rubbed his hands together and smiled, though it was more a grin of determination than triumph.
"It went good," he said, his voice more sure than it had been in weeks.
"Dawson showed me some new drills and gave me a lot to work on. He says I've got a shot, but... I've got to push myself if I want to make it."
Sofia paused, her knife hovering over the cutting board as she considered his words.
"Push yourself, huh?" She raised an eyebrow, her protective instincts kicking in. "What do you mean by that?"
Mia, who was busy setting out a couple of plates, turned her head.
"Yeah, Leo. Does that mean you're going to be even more crazy about football than you already are?"
Leo's smile grew a little more sheepish as he nodded.
"I guess... yeah. I need to work harder. Dawson's giving me a chance, but he says I'm not there yet. But I can be. I just need to keep at it."
Sofia put down the knife, wiping her hands on a dish towel before crossing the small space between them.
"I don't want you to get caught up in the idea that you have to be perfect, Leo. No one is. And I know you want this, but just... don't lose sight of everything else. You're still young, still learning."
Her voice softened, and there was that maternal edge to it.
"But if you're sure this is what you want, then do your best."
Leo nodded, his resolve unwavering.
"I will, Sofia. I want this."
She studied him for a moment, her gaze searching for any sign of doubt, any hint of uncertainty.
After a long pause, Sofia exhaled, her shoulders relaxing.
"Alright then. Just make sure you're not running yourself into the ground.
You've still got school, too, and we don't want to forget about that."
Mia leaned over from the kitchen counter with a teasing grin.
"Yeah, don't turn into a football robot, Leo. We still need you around for more than just your kicks."
Leo chuckled softly, appreciating her humor.
"I won't, Mia. I won't forget about anything else. I promise."
Sofia smiled warmly and reached out to ruffle his hair.
"Good. Now, come on. Dinner's almost ready. You must be starving after all that training."
As Leo moved to sit at the table, he felt a familiar sense of comfort.
The future felt like a daunting challenge, but tonight, he allowed himself to relax for a moment. Tomorrow was a new day, and he'd be ready for it.