Going for the Goal

"Saph!Get your head in the game!"yelled Coach Laker.Andrea Laker is our soccer coach.She's a really good coach.We have won fifteen games out of thirty so far. We were in the middle of a game and I was spacing in and out of it.The ball came my way and I got ready to kick it.But, before I got the ball, one of the opposing team's memebers kicked my ankle and I didn't even have the ball!

"Foul!"screamed Coach Laker.I got a free shot into the other team's goal. I kicked it and......the goalie dove for it and it went straight over her head.Our team had won and we recieved the championship trophie!That's when it all happened.It was during our last game when a talent scout showed up and made the whole team nervous. Which was what the team needed.The talent scout being there made a huge difference!We played like we owned the field, and it wasn't a home game. It was an away game against Willard.

Before the game was over, I scored a goal and the talent scout came up and recruited me.Now, I play in soccer big leagues.My first practice was today and when I arrived, everyone ignored me except for one person.

"Hey!Welcome to the team.My name is Alessyan Senell.I go by Aless.You are?"He asked."Hey, thanks! At least someone is nice to me.I'm Saphira Lang.I go by Saph."I said."Well, not everyone is going to like you when you just get recruited.Nice to meet you, Saph.By the way, that girl over there is Serenity Chance. Be careful, she's hardly friend with anyone."

We started a practice game and I was heading out to the field for warm-ups."Welcome to the first practice of the season!As you can see..We have a couple new additions to the team.This is Saphira Lang and Serenity Chance.Saphira, Serenity, My name is Coach Smith.Welcome to the team.Everyone, I want you to play fair."he said.

We started warm-ups and Serenity stood by me."I want to be friends with you because obviously we're both great."She said."Great!That's my friend Alessyan."I said.When we got done with practice, I started to walk home when I heard someone yell."Saph!Wait for me!"I turned around and Alessyan was yelling and waving, and running towards me.I stopped and waited and soon enough, he had finally caught up with me."what's up?"He looked at me and smiled."Not much, you?Where are you going?"he asked."I've got to get to my house."I said."Why?"

"Because, my sister needs me."He seemed not to get the hint."Why?"I sighed."You can come if you want, but I don't know if she'll like you.She's very shy when it comes to new people."I said."Oh, cool.Sure, I'll come."he said.We were almost to my house and that's when I got those nauseating headaches.My vision swayed and blurred.I couldn't see at all.Next thing I knew was that I was in my room and Aless was asleep in a chair in front of the t.v.I woke up and the t.v. was on.Aless was still asleep, so I got up and went downstairs.(switching to Alessyan's point of view)

I wake up and look around."Where did she go?"I thought. I looked all over for her.I went downstairs and she was getting something to drink."Saph!You're supposed to be in bed!"I said."I was just thirsty.But, I didn't want to wake you up.You looked so peaceful."she said."Back up to bed!"I said.(switching to Saphira's point of view)

"I want you to sleep some more."He said."But, I'm not tired."I said."Honey, we'll talk in the morning.It's three in the morning.I'll go to bed with you.Will that help?"he asked."Ok, maybe.."I said with a mischeivious smile.He smiled back and we fell asleep in each other's arms.The next morning was another soccer practice, but I had a doctor's appointment so I couldn't go.After I arrived home, I met Aless after practice.We walked home hand in hand.His duffel bag was hanging behind him by it's shoulder strap.

My little sister got interested in soccer because of me.Which was a great thing except that during my 'summer vacation', I had to coach the team.The good thing was, during summer, practice was every other day."What did you doctor say?"he asked."They're still testing.When's our first game?"I asked."Oh, let me know.Next week."He said."What day?"He sighed."Saturday."I looked at him."I can make it.My next appointment isn't until sunday."I said.

"That's good.Our next practice is Friday."He said."I can make that one too.I will have to be careful.After the last practice, I passed out.I don't want that to happen again."He nodded."Then take it easy.Don't go so fast when you're running for the ball.Try to take deep breaths every now and then."he said.I kissed him and we finally arrived at my house.We went inside and hung out in the basement.My mom came down the basement stairs with a platter full of cookies and milk.She left and we started playing foosball again.

We were in the middle of the game when I passed out.I took it easy, what was wrong with me?It was our first game and I had passed out for some reason.When I awoke, I was in the hospital.My parents were the only ones in my room."Mom, what's wrong?Why are you crying?"I asked."Saphira!Nothing, sweetheart.Because I was scared for you."she said.Just then, Dr. Reeds walked in."Mr. and Mrs. Lang, can I talk to you in private?"He asked.My mom stood up and kissed my forehead."We'll be back soon, honey."(switching to Mom's point of view)

"What is it, Dr. Reeds?Is something wrong with her?"I asked."Well...I'm afraid that it's bad news. She has lung cancer.She keeps passing out because of the lack of oxygen to the brain.It hasn't progressed far."she said.(back to Saphira's point of view)

My parentws walked in and my mom was crying."Honey, we have bad news."She said."What is it?"She sobbed harder."You have lung cancer. You can't play sports anymore."she said.I started to cry hard."I want to talk to Alessyan!Does he know?"I asked."Alright.No."She said.My parents left and I sobbed harder.Alessyan slowly walked in, and he was a sight to see.His blonde hair was all messed up and his eyes were bloodshot and they also had a glint of worry.

I was crying on my knees when he noticed me."Saph, what's wrong?"He asked."It turns out that I have lung cancer.I can't play sports and I might die."I started crying even harder and Alessyan just sat there and held me."I'm really scared."I said."Honey, don't be, but It's okay to be scared.Just remember that I love you and always will.No matter where you are or how sick you are.I'll always love you."

Alessyan hugged me."Aless, I want you to win the next soccer game for me, please?Tell the team that I miss them."I said."Saph, you're only part of the team for a week and you're already friends with everyone!When you passed out during the game last night, everyone was so worried about you.Here, I want...I want  you to have this..It's in japanese, but it means hope."He said.

That night, Alessyan went home early and came back the next day.When he entered my room, it was filled with balloons, teddybears, and gift cards."Wow.Looks like somebody was here before I was."he said."Yeah, about ten people from the team."I said."You seem to be doing better."He said.Just then, Dr.Reeds came in."Saph, looks like you have a visitor."She said."I know, Dr.Reeds.This is Alessyan Senell, my boyfriend."I said."How nice.NIce to meet you.Saph we need to operate on you.It turns out that we caught your cancer at an early stage."She said.

Alessyan's grip on my hand tightened."But, the operation might be a success.There's a fifty/fifty chance that you might or might now survie the operation."She said.Dr.Reeds left and I went back into my shell."Saph, come out of your shell.I want to help  you and so does Dr. Reeds.But, I can't help you get better if you won't come out of your stupid shell!"he yelled.All of a sudden, I started choking.My face turned blue, it was as if I couldn't get oxygen.Alessyan pressed the nurses button and they shoved Alessyan out of the room.Fifteen minutes later, I could breathe and I was sleeping peacefully.While Alessyan was sitting in a chair across from my bed while I slept, My older sister popped in.

"How is she?"asked Bobbi."Right now, she's doing fine.Who are you?"he asked."I'm Saph's sister, Bobbi-Joe Lang.I go by Bobbi.Who are you?"She asked."Alessyan Senell.Saph's boyfriend."Before Alessyan could finish his sentence, I woke up."Aless....?Bobbi-Joe!I haven't seen you in a long time!"I said."I heard about your condition and I had to come and see you.I see you've gotten yourself a great boyfriend."she said."Thank you.How've you been?"I asked.

"I've been really great.I started my own ranch."she said."That's great!Meet any guys?"I asked."Well, since you asked...I got married last week.Can you gess what his name was?"She asked."I dont know." I said."Alessyan."She said."What was his last name?"He asked."Menk."She said. "That's my step brother!"He said.

Just then, Dr.Reeds came in."You guys will have to leave.Saphira has to go into surgery today."She said .Aless came over to my bed and kissed me."Be brave and remember I'm always with you as long as you are wearing that necklace."he said.Bobbi came over and hugged me."Don't be scared.When you get better and get out of here, we'll all go for ice cream."she said.

Bobbi and Alessyan left the hospital as I was wheeled into surgery.I wasn't afraid.I had a little piece of Alessyan with me.Then I remembered what Bobbi said.Hopefully I would get better.I had pulled through the operation, and my parents were notified.I wasn't allowed visitors until I recooperated.

I still wasn't allowed to have visitors but they let my parents in.My friends had to wait until I got out of the ICU(intense care unit).My parents were visiting and well..They didn't say much.I was mostly groggy, so what they did say, I barely heard it."Mom...Does Alessyan and Bobbi know that I survived the operation?"I asked."Bobbi?You mean your sister Bobbi?"I nodded, and she sighed."Your sister died in a car acciden three years ago.Don't you remember?"She said."But, I was talking to her, and so was Alessyan."I said."Honey, I'll talk to Alessyna.But, he does know that you survived.That teddy bear over there is from him.He misses you very much."She said.

"If I write a letter to him, will you give it to him?"I asked."Honey, of course I will."She said.After my parents left, the only things that I had to keep me busy were the television and the letter I was writing to Alessyan.

Aless,
 My parents think I am going crazy.I was talking about my sister Bobbi-Joe, you know, asking if she knew I had survived the surgery and they told me she was dead!Can you believe that?I know I have been groggy lately, but I'm not halucinating!I have to go, its lunch time.
Love,
Saph

ps:
Thanks for the teddy bear
I miss you a lot.

The next day I was moved out of the ICU.While I was eating lunch, Alessyan came in."How're you feeling?"He asked."Good.I'm just glad that I'm allowed to have visitors."I said."That's good.The whole team misses you.Amada made you this teddy bear.She hopes you get better soon.Their team really likes you."He said."Did you ever get my letter?"I asked."what letter?"he said."I wrote you a letter and I gave it to myh parents to give you."I said."I never got any letter from you."He said."By the way, how did you know I was here and not still in the ICU?"

He smiled."The nurse told me.Maybe your parents forgot to give it to me?Or maybe they lost it?"He suggested."My parents are the most organized people on this planet!"I said.

A few months later, I was released from the hospital.I still couldn't play sports.But, the doctors don't want me to, until they know for sure that I wont pass out again.

That summer, Alessyan moved to a different part of town.I wrote over fifty letters and I hoped that he would at least write me back.Before I knew it, it had been three years and I was a soccer pro.I was on the United States National Team.I hadn't recieved one single letter back from Alessyan, but over the years I kept on writing.I never knew if he ever read the letters of if he even got any of them.Every time I wrote a letter and didn't get a response, my heart broke a little more.

I was a survivor of lung cancer.I kept on writing because it felt good to act like I was talking to someone.I missed Alessyan a lot over the years, but I never forgot how he helped me survive my operation that changed my life. Now, everything is fine and I had beaten my challenge and I had arrived at my goal.I was a pro soccer player, and I'm a National Champ.My parents died in a car crash last year adn soccer was the only thing that got me through that trajedy.Other than my bestfriend Serenity Chance, who now is a pro soccer player too.

I never found out what had become of my old boyfriend.Now I'm still single and I'll stay that way for a while.Right now, I am as happy as I'll every be.My little sister Amanda is thirteen and is following in my footsteps.She's going to become a professional soccer player.I'm a pro soccer player and I just graduated from Owens Community College.I recieved my degree for journalism.

I have everything I wanted except for my old boyfriend.He's long gone and I will probably never see him again.Right now, Amanda and soccer are the only two things I could ever want.One thing I'll never forget is the person who helped me survive an operation that changed my life.Amanda and I were traveling around the United States to find some relatives to visit.We found an Aunt to stay with in Florida.We stayed with her until I had enough money to support Amanda and me.We moved back to town and into our old house.We were unpacking our things when there was a knock on the door.

I opened the door and there he was."Saph."I looked at him, surprised."Alessyan.Wh-What are you doing here?"He put his hands on my face."I've missed you so badly over the years.I love you."I let him into the house and I continued to unpack."Why didn't you write me back.I wrote you all the time and you never wrote me back."Tears were falling and I couldn't stopthem.Alessyan came to me and pulled me into his arms."I am so sorry.I never meant for that to happen.There's something I need to tell you."I backed away from him and we took a seat on the couch.He put his hand on my arm as he spoke.

"I never recieved any letters from you because the reason I moved was my parents.They died that day I didn't come over to visit.I was upset, scared and I didn't know what to do.I wanted to tell you, but the state was shipping me to florida.I've missed you so bad.When I heard you were back in town, I had to come and tell you."Tears were still fallingl.I couldn't believe it.When I looked inot his eyes, I could see all the pain he had endured.I wrapped my arms around his neck and I buried my face into his neck."I'm so sorry..."

Alessyan squeezed my sides and buried his head in my neck.We were like that for a while until Amanda walked in."Saph, is everything okay?"I looked up, startled."Amanda, things are okay.Do you remember Alessyan?"She seemed a little startled but then she recognized him."I remember you.You broke my sister's heart.I can't believe you are back!"

"Amanda, why don't you go unpack your bedroom."She left and Alessyan looked at me funnily."She found me crying in my room one day and I told her.Look, my parents died in a car crash three years ago and well....things have been rough ever since."Alessyan seemed so calm."I am sorry to hear that.I wish I could've been here for the services.I feel horrible that I left without an explanation.I feel just terrible for not being there when you needed me."The sadness in his eyes was so intense, that tears formed behind my eyes.I wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered in his ear.

"You are here now and I am not letting you go."We kissed and he held me."The only thing is, is that I have to work in order to pay the bills and keep food in the fridge....It just all seems so hard."

"I will do whatever it takes to help you, because I love you."I smiled and kissed him."I love you too."I said. I couldn't believe he was back.I had everything I could possibly want.I was very happy.The days went by in a blurr of happiness.My problems were solved, except for one.Since I wasn't Amanda's parent or guardian, legally, she had to be taken away from me.That morning, Alessyan found me crying."What's wrong?"He asked."The state took Amanda.What am I going to do?"Alessyan wiped away my tears and hugged me."It will be okay, baby.We can fight the state."he said.

I pulled away from him and looked into his eyes."We can't fight the state.I'm only eighteen, I'm not married, plus I don't have a job."I said.He looked at me and frowned."We'll figure it out somehow."I had no idea what I was going to do.I called my Aunt."They just took her without notice?"she asked."Yes.I don't know what to do.The only thing I can think of is for you to fight the state and take custody."she sighed."It would be best, you're right.I will do it, it's what your parents would've wanted."She said."Thank you for helping.I will talk to you soon.bye."

Alessyan handed me a cup of tea."So how did it go?"I sighed a sigh of relief."She is going to fight the state and take custody of Amanda.I just hope that she wins."He massaged my shoulders."Hopefully, that problem is solved.Right now, we wait.Since it's been so long, I owe you a coupe of dates.What do you say about tonight?"he asked.

I hadn't had a date since prom."Ummm...sounds good.Where do you want to go and what time?"He kissed my neck."Great!How about the Steak House?Six o'clock, and we leave five minutes before."He kissed my cheek and left.I was a little confused, but I didn't care.I headed to my bedroom to find something to wear.I found the black dress that I had been saving for a special occasion.Well..this was a special occasion.I got it out and tooka quick shower.I shaved my legs and did my hair and make up.By five till six, I was ready to go.He showed up in a suit, with red roses and a jewelry box.

"Hey, baby, you ready to go?"he asked, and I smiled."Of course."I took the roses and put them in water before we left.He opened the passenger side door for me.He got into the driver's seat and drove us to the Steak House.On the way there, I spotted the jewelry box."What's this?"I asked, and he smiled."That is for you.I will give it to you when we get to the resturaunt."I smiled and he squeezed my leg.

When we arrived at the resturaunt, we were a few minutes early for our reservation."Here, I hope you like it."I opened the box and there was the most gorgeous necklace and ring set I have ever seen.He took the ring."This part has to wait, but you can wear the necklace now."I was very shocked.

"It's so gorgeous!"He smiled."I'm glad that you like it."He said.We were seated to our table and we ordered food and drinks.All of a suddne, he gets up and kneels in front of me."Saphira Ava Lang, I love you with all my heart and I would do anything for you.Will you marry me?"I was so shocked that I didn't know what to say."Yes! Yes, I will marry you.I love you Alessyan."He kissed me and put the ring on my ring finger."I love you too, Saph."He said.That was a happy day for us, and I will never EVER forget it.

The wedding was absolutely gorgeous!My bestfriends and Amanda were my bridesmaides.It was a fall wedding and it was magnificent.I couldn't believe that I was getting married!When we ent to walk down the aisle, they let doves fly.It was beautiful.We had a great reception in our house.There were flowers everywhere, and my Aunt catered the whole thing.It was just so magificent.After everyone left, Alessyan and I took off to our honeymoon in Hawaii.The sparkling water taunted me from our honeymoon suite.I was on the balcony looking out at the water when Alessyan came up behind me, and wrapped his arms around me.

"It's so beautiful here."He said.I squeezed his hands and watched the tide come in.He kissed my neck and whispered words into my ear."You look so good standing on this balcony."I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck.He kissed me long and passionately."Hawaii really agrees with you."He started caressing my face before he carried me back into the room.We were in there for a good hour before our room service arrived.He got up and answered the door while I was relaxing.He carried a huge tray to the bed and fed me breakfast."MMMM..that is wonderful!"I fed him some and he nodded in agreement.The whole day was wonderful.I had a fantastic honeymoon.

When we arrived back home, Serenity was asleep on the couch."Wow.Looks like someone missed me."I said.Alessyan carried me in and then carried in the suitcases.He had just set them down when Serenity woke up."You're back!You look so good!How are you?"She asked.I enveloped her in a hug."I missed you.Aww, thanks.You look good too.I am tired from the flight, but other than that I am good."I said.Alessyan took the bag upstairs and I was left talking to Serenity.When he came back down, he wrapped his arms around me.

"You two are so cute together!I can't believe you guys are married!"She squealed.Serenity eventually found herself a man.His name was Larry Sailon.They had dated a year before he proposed.I was her bridesmaid, and she had a beautiful wedding.She andhim moved into the house next door.

It's been a few years since then and I am pregnant with my first chil.I couldn't believe it.I hadn't told Alessyan yet and I was planning to that evening.When he arrived home from work, I had a candlelit dinner waiting for him."What's all this for?"he asked."I smiled and gestured for him to sit."I have some news."I said.Shock covered his face."Is everything okay?"he asked, and I smiled."Alessyan, I'm pregnant."I said."You're pr-pregnant?"he asked.I nodded and he literally jumped for joy."I can't believe it!Oh my god!!"he yelled.We hugged and kissed and celebrated.That was one of the most magical nights of my life.There was more to come and I was ready to embrace them.