His words hurt the woman, who stops, her heart pounding. "I don't want this to end here," she says, fighting back tears. "Do you remember when we shared the victory? The laughter, the new friendships... everything we built together? I don't want to lose all of that."
The young man looks down, visibly affected by her words, but he feels trapped in a corner. "That happiness seems so far away now! I don't want your dream to be shattered, but I can't sacrifice my future either!"
With one last look, she reaches out a hand as if to stop him, but he turns and walks away, leaving her with a heavy heart and a feeling of helplessness.
"Think about it, please!" she shouts, but he doesn't turn around.
The passion for the game is evident, but the economic reality threatens to extinguish the light of this place that has brought so many people together.
I approach the woman calmly, holding the folded flyer between my fingers. I feel the heavy air around me: she and the boy seemed to have had a rather intense discussion, but it was none of my business. I didn't care about their relationships or the problems they might have. All that mattered to me was the reason I was there. I focus on my goal, leaving the rest out of my thoughts.
"Sorry," I say in a calm voice, trying not to sound intrusive. I just want to get her attention. Her green eyes, still tense, settle on me. She looks at me, maybe surprised, maybe tired. I show her the flyer I brought with me, without too much emphasis.
"I'd like to join the team," I say, without frills. I'm not here to mince words.
She stares at me for a moment, as if she can't believe what I've just said. Maybe the idea of someone actually wanting to join the team at a time like this seems surreal to her.
"You… want to join us?" she repeats, as if to make sure she understands.
"Yes," I say, keeping my cool. I nod slightly, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. "I know you're looking for new members." Then I add, "But of course, there's a fee, right?" My tone is calm, but not distant. I want to know if there's any practical value in what they're offering.
She sighs, a look of disappointment crossing her face. "I'm really sorry," she begins, her voice thick with frustration. "At first I thought it would work. One member quit, but the others were still motivated. But now there's no one left. The team is gone."
She pauses, as if the words are hard to get out. "Plus," she continues, "the next game is only 3 days away. And even if I wanted to, I wouldn't know where to start to put it all back together in such a short time."
There's a short pause. She stares at me, trying to see if I'm still listening. "And I have to be honest," she adds finally, almost apologetically. "I don't have the money to pay you. I'm already in debt and can't afford any more expenses. I would have loved to have you on board, but this is it."
Her words don't surprise me. I look at her and think for a moment. "Payment is no problem," I tell her, smiling slightly to let her know she's not discouraging me. "As long as new customers come in, there's always a chance we can get back on our feet, right?"
She seems hesitant, as if she doesn't want to give anyone false hope. "Uh… yeah, theoretically," she says. But there's no enthusiasm in her voice, just uncertainty.
"Then it's simple," I say, with a casualness that's meant to instill confidence in her. "We just have to win the game you mentioned earlier. If we win, we can attract new members or, who knows, get some funding."