-Raya-
The sky was still pale when I woke up—brushed in soft pastels, like someone had gently smeared chalk across the morning. My body felt the weight of yesterday’s drills, but the ache was familiar now. Not heavy. Just there.
I moved through my morning quietly, the rest of the house still asleep. The floor was cool beneath my feet as I tiptoed into the kitchen, tying my hair up and reaching for a pan.
Practice would stretch from 8 to 3 today. Seven hours of sprints, drills, tactical walk-throughs, and who knew what else Coach had in store for us. We’d definitely need more than just protein bars to survive it.
I cooked as quietly as I could manage—eggs, toast, and grilled chicken breast with some lemon and salt. Nothing fancy, just filling. Then I packed two portions into containers
