1 Persephone

"Welcome back to ESPN, I am John Hundy."

"And I am Ted Hughes. Today is a sad day in sports, one of the greatest soccer managers in history is on his death bed. We have gotten word this morning that Michael Espinosa was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital after a heart attack. Michael Espinosa is a name many in sports know, specially in soccer. Pep Guardiola admires him and sees Michael as his mentor. Barcelona fans and players are going to miss their manager, leaving some doubts as to whether they would be able to stay on the top, for the rest of the season."

"During his 5 years in Barcelona, he has brought them three trebles. Having been done only twice before, by Pep Guardiola. Having started his managerial coaching career with the Mexican soccer team Monterrey. Arguably the best soccer team in North America of the past decade. During his time there, Michael managed to win both the Apertura and the Clausura back to back twice. Following that, he won the CONCACAF Champions League 4 times in a row. After losing out on the FIFA Club World Cup twice, they managed to beat Chelsea 2-1 on the extra time. But next year saw a semi-final defeat against Liverpool earning a third place."

"After his defeat to Liverpool, Rayado's manager saw himself signing a contract with Villareal who had ended previous season below the mid table finish. He got 3rd place on La Liga during his first, and very successful, season in Spain. His team qualified for the UEFA Champions League, after losing in the final to Bayern Munich, Michael made some new signings and finished first in La Liga after a last game win against rivals Atletico Madrid. Going on to win the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana, losing the final of UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and failing to defeat Liverpool in the UEFA SuperCup."

"This tremendous success did not go unnoticed, having not renewed his contract with Villareal, his fans wondered if he was planing on moving on, and Michael Espinosa, not being a person that waits, told the media he had signed a contract for 2 years with Tottenham. After another two great years but sadly losing to his now personal rivals, Liverpool three times in his two years there. He moved to Manchester City, where his 10 years there not only granted him a knighthood from the queen, but arguably saw the best manager in England since Sir Alex Fergusson."

"Having said he had had a great time in with the Citizens, he wanted a change of scenery, and this saw his return to Spain after 12 years. He signed a 7 year contract with Barcelona, who had not been playing their best the last four seasons. He has more thropies than I have silverware John!"

"I know Ted, and not many know, but he was an amazing soccer player himself having played and represented Mexico in the World Cup, taking his team to the finals in a historic World Cup for Mexico. That earned him both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball, and this was at 18! He started his soccer career for his home team of Monterrey at 15, turning pro at 16. His talents for scoring and getting the crowds going was soon noticed and FC Porto quickly snatched him up for a sum of 15 million USD."

"After an amazing two seasons for Porto, and his amazing performance in the World Cup, he was bought by Atletico de Madrid for 40 million USD."

"Yes, he was having the best time of his life John, but that season was, suffice to say, something he wanted to quickly forget. It took him a while to adapt to Spanish soccer. Atletico loaned him out to Real Sociedad, where he started the season running. Scoring 3 goals and having 2 assists against Sevilla, The next two seasons saw him winning 4 trophies with the team. The best years Real Sociedad had ever had, they tried to invest 55 million dollars on the player, but Real Sociedad lost him to Barcelona for a hefty sum of 64 million USD."

"Too bad, the best wonderkid to have ever come from Mexico, was injured halfway through an amazing season. Having had gone through countless knee surgeries to try and fix his leg. Michael decided to retire after a year of on and off time in the hospital and the field."

"Coming back 35 years later, after a rough life of..."

A middle aged man turned off the tv.

"Thank you Lionel, it's like they want me to die already." He whispered through his re-breather. An old man said laying in a hospital bed, machines attached to his body like tentacles.

He moved his re-breather to the side to speak properly. "I appreciate all of you for coming, I thought I had a few more years, but alas, my heart says no."

"Coach" Came the voices of the men surrounding him, all trying to get their say.

"Coach don't say that, we still have half the season to go." One of them said.

"Lionel, David, Sergio, Luis, Ousmane, and the rest of you. Listen, I do not lament that my heart is taking me away from the field for a second time, but no matter where I go, I want you all to promise me, promise me that you will play to the utmost, and live your dreams, whether that is on or off the field. It is ironic, that his happened to me half-way through the season with the same team twice."

"I know you all play in different teams, but that does not matter, the sports connects you all, and I know each of you have a lot left to give to the world. I wish I had the chance to have done the same, so , do it for me at least."

Michael turned to his right and eyed the man in the eye. "Luis, don't waste your time partying and fighting other players. Only dogs bite, okay?"

The man called luis looked chagrined and only nodded, a few tears falling down his face.

"As for the rest of you, I couldn't be mor-"

The old man got a pain like no other, and clutched his chest accidentally pulling out his IV.

He heard his players talking loudly, but he could not make out what was said. A loud buzzing filled his ears.

Michael could see their mouths moving along with some motion in the room as he watched in fascination, they scrambled like ants without a queen.

'If this is how I go, I had a good life, I only regret not fulfilling my dreams'

A far away light seem to creep closer and closer, until it was all he saw.

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"Do you think I could go to dad's place for the school break mom?"

"Where did this come from Will?" She looked at her son next to her, taking her eyes of the road.

"I want to go to the beach, he lives in Tybee Island. We live in Suwanee, there is only Lake Lanier close to here!" Will whined to her.

"You want to stay at your father's for 2 months? You know he has a new family, would you even be comfortable there, without knowing them?"

She tried to look at him in the eyes as he mumbled under his breath.

"Look at me William, why do you want to go there?"

He turned around and screamed. "Because he let's me do what I want!! You keep telling me what to do and not to do, when to go and what time to come back. I am tired of it! I want to be with father, and instead I am stuck with you!"

She was so shocked at his outburst, trying to articulate a reply.

"Is that what you want? I don't give you enou- Oh Will!!" She yelled the last part as she saw a truck merging into their lane, zooming into their view.

CRASH

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"Vitals are stable. He has no visible fractures. Just a small gash on his head. We gave him IV fluids and got him to you guys as fast as we could. He is unconscious but reactive to pain."

"I want CT scans after you stop the bledding in his forehead. Put 250 mL of O negative in him just in case."

"Don't worry Mrs. Zahino, we just put him in a medical coma to monitor any brain damage. But CT scans so far show nothing. Aside from the 5 stitches in his forehead, there are no other wounds or anything damaged. He should be waking up in a day or two."

'What? Did they take me to another hospital? Who is Mrs. Zuhino? I don't have any players with that last name.'

He tried to open his eyes, but the light from the ceiling was blinding and it hurt.

He squinted and let his eyes adjust slowly.

'Why would they move me to another hospital? Or another room? Did I get surgery?'

He looked around his bed for the nurse button, but stopped as he noticed a woman in her early 30s sleeping on the sofa to his left.

Looking at her features, she was white skinned with dark-brown hair, she seemed a bit familiar almost like someone he forgot, but he doesn't have a memory of ever meeting her before.

Staring more deeply, there was some kind of memory that seemed just a little too far away, but close enough to see.

Then it hit him, rammed into his head with a thunderous headache.