In the Rearview Mirror

[Aleris]

Life is funny. Eirlys thought deeply as she savored her cold brew coffee. It was early. She was alone above deck as the sailboat gently rocked. She was somewhere off the coast of the United States for her small break during the off-season. Three years ago Eirlys joined the SSL and her life changed forever. Not really when she started playing, she would have always been playing football, even if it was back in Wales. But that fateful day on her first sponsorship shoot for a SSL video game. She thought she hated Helena Soderberg. She had hated her. But it seemed so long ago. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Eirlys remembered the first time she'd felt that fire for her. It was just a smile during the shoot. Eirlys had cracked some silly joke when the producers were taking too long and Helena smiled and laughed with her. And that was it. Not love at first sight, but certainly unexpected.

"Morgon sleepy head" Eirlys jumped, she hadn't heard Helena come up deck. And there it was. That smile. "Still worn out from the season?" Helena joked. Eirlys threw the closest thing in reach at her, happened to be a towel. They had decided to spend the summer together. Get away from the world on Eirlys sailboat for a few weeks. And it had been everything. Helena hadn't stopped rubbing it in Eirlys' face that she was champion. But Eirlys didn't mind. She had accepted the fact that she could be second to Helena. That there was enough room in this world for the both of them. And learning more so everyday that together the two of them would conquer the world. Or at least the SSL. Even when they had to play each other, Eirlys wouldn't hold back, and she knew Helena wouldn't either.