It's in. 

"Alex, YOU SEXY MOTHERFUCKER" I scream as I jump on top of him. Champions of the world. All thanks to Alex's beautiful left foot. Top corner, absolutely beautiful. Champions of the WORLD!

I get out from the pileup. For some reason everyone isn't as excited as i thought they would be. There's an air of confusion and a tinge of sadness among the stadium. It's gone quiet. Why has it gone quiet?

You could hear a pin drop. I look at where my teammates are looking. The far corner of the pitch. There are paramedics and worried players from the other side, Sheffield. And from my team too. I sprint over.

The grass is stained red with blood. I can't see who it is. I see the red of the Nottingham jersey. Oh no. Oh no no no no no.

I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. You know the one. Where your gut just drops in dread. Usually, it all turns out to be for nothing. That you imagined the worst and it came to pass and in the end it wasnt your best friend who was 3 months and 2 days younger than you and had been your best friend for every day you could remember. It wasn't your best friend who had been with you every step of the way, through breakups, funerals, a divorce, the academy and was still there with you in the championship final. He was still there. Because that feeling came to pass.

Stolen novel; please report.

Not this time.

It was my best friend lying there with only half a neck. 

Mine

My best friend

I was alone.

Hopelessly alone.

For the first time in my life. 

I couldnt have been here without you.

I can't do this without you.

Please.

Wake up.

Let us celebrate our victory and let me declare my love for you afterwards and how I'd known I was in love with you since I was 17 and that was only two weeks after you had told me you were bisexual.

Because that meant I had a chance.

Nothing.

I can't think.

Gone.

Alone.

Alone. For ever.

I see a blue jersey running out through the stadium towards an exit.

I do what I do best, but on my own this time.

I run.