right where you left me

Epilogue

The day before the start of the season, I sat in the bar. I had a glass in front of me, and I looked at it with ease.

"What's brought you to this part of the world?" the bartender asked me after she heard my Australian accent.

"Football," I replied.

"Cool," she answered. "Do you play in the WSL?"

"Yeah, I do," I responded.

"What team?"

"Arsenal," I responded.

"Ah, sick! I went to the Wolfsburg game, last season."

"I was there!"

"So you were at the World Cup too?" she asked.

"Yeah, I was," I smiled.

"Sorry about us beating you."

"It's okay. We'll get you next time." She went on about her job, and I looked at the glass in front of me. My new drink of choice: an orange sunrise. The best mocktail on the market. It was all going to work out.

"You ready to go?" Leah asked as she came out of the bathroom. We had stopped via the bar as she needed the bathroom. We were making our way back to North London from Milton Keynes. I downed the rest of my orange sunrise and nodded my head.

"Yep, all ready."

The following season with Arsenal was one of my best. I felt as if everything was working. It all was turning out exactly how it was supposed to. I had the number 8 on the back of my jersey, and a support system like no other. Bindi and Darcy both flew out during the season, coming to watch me in more games than they ever had before. I felt their love, and support, and everything in between.

Eden also ended up moving to Manchester. Jill took up an opportunity at City, after the departure of Eva Valtersen left room for a new midfielder, and Eden went with her. I loved being only a train ride away from her. I needed my sister, and she needed me. There was something so special about her. About us.

In the following February, Leah returned to the pitch. She subbed in for one of the league games and it was as if she had never left. Once the final whistle blew, I jumped onto her, wrapping my arms around my girl, so proud of her fight to get back. She did it.

I finished the season with some of the best stats. I had 15 goals, for a midfielder, with 11 assists. I was awarded player of the season, by all the different organisations, and even finished in the top three for the Balon D'or something I had never expected would happen.

We didn't win the Champions League that season, but we had so many years to get that second win.

I stayed with Arsenal for many years, wanting to be with Leah and with the team I loved. It was easy to fall in love with this team. It was easy to feel so connected with the players, staff. They were a family like no other. They were my people.

Home is where the heart is, and my heart would always be here. Would always be in North London. I signed multiple extensions, and so too did Leah. She liked being home, and I liked being with her. It worked. It all was perfect.

I never drank again; the burn never reached my throat. I had low points. Moments where I wanted it more than anything, and in those times, I did truly feel like the villain. But, in the end, I was saved. My hero saved me. My person saved me.

I would never falter to it; not anymore.

I won the Balon D'or. The following season. It was the strangest feeling. One day I was just Tippah, and the next I was a Balon D'or winner. Things really do change.