The alarm clock buzzed at 6:30 AM, the same as it always did. But for Mateo Alvarez, the routine that followed was anything but normal. Instead of lacing up his boots and heading to the training ground, he reached for the crutches propped against his bedside table, their cold metal a stark reminder of his new reality.
Across the small dorm room, Lukas stirred in his bed, his blond hair a mess, his eyes still heavy with sleep. The German teenager had been Mateo's roommate since the beginning of the season, and in that time, they had become more than just roommates. They were brothers, confidantes, partners in the strange, surreal journey of being teenage footballers living away from home.
"Morning, superstar," Lukas mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. "Ready for another thrilling day of hobbling around campus?"
Mateo rolled his eyes and signed back with one hand while balancing on his crutches. "You're hilarious. Truly."
