Caitlin's POV

The final whistle blew, echoing through the stadium like a thunderclap. I stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the game settling heavily on my shoulders. Then, I saw her—Elena—jumping up in the middle of the pitch, a radiant smile lighting up her face. My heart twisted as I watched her get engulfed by Rachel and Millie, their bodies rocking back and forth as they celebrated their victory, a triumphant chorus of cheers and laughter surrounding them.

The disappointment washed over me like a cold wave. I felt a nagging sense of regret, the familiar voice in my head questioning why I hadn't pushed harder, why I hadn't found a way to change the outcome of this match. But as I continued to watch Elena, her joy seemed to radiate outwards, and suddenly, that frustration began to melt away.

Alanna and Macca walked past me, their eyes assessing the emotional fallout of the match. They exchanged a knowing glance before Macca leaned in and gave my shoulder a squeeze. "Come on, Cait, let's go find the others," she urged, trying to pull my gaze away from Elena. But I couldn't look away. I couldn't help it.

Then, as if sensing my gaze, Elena turned around. In that split second, time seemed to freeze as she spotted me. Without hesitation, she took off, running toward me with an urgency that made my heart race. I held my breath, and when she reached me, she enveloped me in a tight hug that chased away all the disappointment in an instant.

"Cait!" she exclaimes, her voice muffled against my neck. I could feel her warmth, the familiar scent of her hair filling my senses, anchoring me amidst the chaos of the moment.

"You were incredible, Elena," I manage to say, my voice thick with emotion. But even as I speak those words, I know there's a sadness lurking beneath the surface.

Elena pulls back just enough to meet my eyes, her expression serious. "You did so well, too. You represented your country with so much heart. You've made history with your team. You know that, right? You're changing lives for little girls all over Australia."

Her words strike me like a lifeline, wrapping around the disappointment like a warm embrace. I feel my heart swell with a mix of pride and pain. "But we were so close," I murmur, frustration creeping back in.

She holds my face in her hand, her thumb brushing gently against my cheek. "You can't let this define you. You're amazing, Cait. Just remember that."

As I soak in her words, I feel a surge of gratitude and admiration for the woman in front of me. Her unwavering belief in me is the one thing that could pierce through the heaviness in my chest. I pull her back into a hug, wrapping my arms around her waist, and without a thought, I press a soft kiss to her neck, careful to hide it from anyone watching.

"Go celebrate with your teammates," I whisper against her skin, the warmth of her body grounding me. "You deserve it."

Elena hesitates, the reluctance evident in her eyes. "I don't want to leave you like this," she says softly, her brow furrowing with concern.

"I'll be okay," I reassure her, forcing a smile even though my heart feels heavy. "Really. You need to enjoy this moment."

With a sigh, she finally lets go, but her hands linger on my arms for a second longer, as if she's trying to imprint the moment into her memory. "Alright. But promise me you'll come find me later?"

"Promise," I reply, watching her walk away, joining her teammates in their celebration. The joy radiating from her is infectious, but as I stand there, the bittersweet ache in my chest remains. I had lost today, but I was still in love with the woman who had just made history for her country. And that, in some way, felt like a victory of its own.

"Come on, Cait." I hear Alanna say behind me as she wraps her arm around my shoulder and guides me to the bench where Tony is already talking to the girls. I didn't want to have to listen to the sad talks right now, I just wanted to watch Elena celebrating with her teammates because even in the happiness of this moment for her, she still turned to look at me every now and then and it filled the new coming void in me.

I sat on the bench, Alanna's arm still draped over my shoulder, but I barely registered her words or Tony's debrief. My gaze kept drifting back to Elena, her joy radiating across the pitch. Every so often, she'd turn, eyes searching for me in the sea of players and coaches. When our eyes met, the ache in my chest softened just a little. But still, the weight of defeat sat heavily on my heart.

"I'll be back," I murmured to Alanna, gently shrugging off her arm. She gave me a concerned look but nods. I needed space, just for a moment.

I walked down the tunnel, my footsteps echoing in the hollow space. The cheers from the crowd and the celebrations from both sides of the stadium started to fade. Finding a quiet corner, I leaned against the cold wall, letting the cool surface press against my back.

My breath was shaky, my chest tightening as the reality of our loss settled in. We were so close. I wanted this so badly—not just for myself, but for the team, for the country. The weight of expectation had always been heavy, but this time it felt like it had crushed me.

I closed my eyes, willing myself to hold it together, but a soft, familiar voice broke through the quiet.

"Cait?"

I open my eyes to see Elena standing a few feet away, her body still buzzing with adrenaline, her cheeks flushed from the victory. Her England kit is slightly crumpled, her hair a bit messy from the post-match celebrations. But there's something in her eyes that pulls me in—the concern, the love, and the unspoken bond that only we share.

She takes a step closer, hesitating as if she isn't sure how to bridge the gap between victory and defeat. But I don't need her to hesitate.

"Elena," I say, my voice barely above a whisper, and that is all it takes. She crosses the space between us in two strides, pulling me into her arms, holding me tightly.

"I'm sorry," she murmurs into my hair, her hand running soothingly up and down my back. "You played so well. All of you did."

I cling to her, burying my face in her shoulder, the tension of the game and the heartbreak of the loss crashing into me. "It wasn't enough," I mutter, the words catching in my throat. "I wanted it so bad."

"I know," Elena whispers, her voice soft and full of understanding. "But Cait... you've already done so much. You made history. No one can take that away from you."

I pull back slightly, my eyes meeting hers. "But I didn't win."

Elena's hand comes up to cradle my face, her thumb brushing away a tear I didn't even realized had fallen. "You've won in so many other ways. And... we both knew this was going to happen. One of us was always going to lose."

"Yeah," I breathe out, feeling the sting of her words because they're true. But it doesn't make it hurt any less. "Yeah, I know," I whispered. "But it doesn't make it easier."

Elena's eyes soften, her hand still gently holding my face. She doesn't try to offer me any more reassurances because she knows they can't take the pain away. Instead, she lets her thumb brush over my cheek again, grounding me in the moment.

For a second, it's just the two of us, away from the noise of the world. No England. No Australia. Just Elena and Caitlin.

"I'm so proud of you," she says quietly, her voice steady. "For everything. For getting this far. For making history with your team."

I shake my head slightly, my throat tightening again. "It's not enough. It doesn't feel like it."

Elena's grip on me tightens just a little, and she leans in, pressing her forehead against mine. "It is. You just don't see it yet." Her breath is warm against my skin, her words a soft murmur that feel like a lifeline. "You've changed everything for so many girls back home. They'll look up to you, to your team, and know that anything is possible. You've already made a difference."

I close my eyes, letting her words sink in, but the ache in my chest still throbs. "I just wanted to win," I admit, the frustration spilling out. "I wanted to be in the final. For me. For you."

Elena's breath hitches, and I feel her pull me even closer, her heart beating against mine. "I know," she whispers, her voice cracking just slightly. "I wanted it for you too."

We stay like that for a moment, wrapped up in each other, neither of us saying anything. The stadium might as well be empty because all I can focus on is the feeling of her arms around me, her steady presence pulling me back from the spiral of disappointment.

Finally, I take a deep breath, lifting my head slightly to meet her gaze. Her eyes are shining, not with victory, but with something else—something deeper. She smiles, a small, sad smile that tugs at my heart.

"You've done more than enough, Cait," she repeats softly, her voice full of conviction. "And I'm so proud of you."

I let out a shaky breath, nodding even though it's still hard to believe. "Thanks, Els."

She gives me one last squeeze before pulling back slightly, her fingers tracing the edge of my jaw. "You need to go back to your team. You know that, right?"

I nod, knowing she's right, but it still doesn't make it any easier to walk away from her. "And you need to go back to yours," I reply, forcing a small smile even though my heart is heavy.

Elena sighs, glancing over her shoulder toward the pitch where her teammates were still celebrating. She turns back to me, her fingers lingering on my arm. "I'll find you later, okay? I promise."

"I'll hold you to that," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

With one last look, Elena steps away, and the loss of her warmth hits me instantly. She starts to walk back toward the noise, the celebrations, and I watch her for a moment, my heart pulling in two directions—towards her and towards my team.

Before she disappears, she turns back one last time, giving me a small smile, and for a second, it is just us again, no rivalry, no countries, just Caitlin and Elena. Then she's gone, swallowed up by the crowd of England players, and I'm left standing alone.

I wipe a hand over my face, taking a deep breath to steady myself before heading back to the bench where Alanna and Macca are waiting. They don't say anything, just give me soft, understanding smiles as I sit down, their presence comforting in the midst of the loss.

Tony's still talking, Sam adding in some words every now and then, but I'm not listening. My mind's solely on Elena being picked up by her team as they celebrate.

And in the moment, even though we'd lost, I felt a strange sense of peace. Because Elena was right—we had both won something far bigger than just a football match.

And no matter what, I knew she'd be there for me—just like I'd be there for her.