Today's the 2019 NWSL Championship game and just like the last two years we are playing the Courage. The Courage only got into the final on a handball so we basically have all of the NWSL behind us. The game was suppose to be played in Cary, North Carolina, but with how much hype the game got they moved it to Bank of America stadium in Charlotte and sold 40,000 tickets which apparently is a record.

"Why are so many of our national team teammates here?" I ask while making my headband in the locker room.

"Maybe because they want to see you go against Hinkle since everytime you play her there's almost always an altercation." Kling says.

"I wouldn't call it an altercation. I mean she can't kick for shit."

"Well let's not get in trouble today." Lindsey says.

"No promises." I say then we head out to the tunnel

A minute after we get into the tunnel we walk out onto the field and all the pregame shit and eventually the game starts. .

In the 5th minute the Courage won a corner. I'm standing around 40 yards from goal with Hinkle defending me. The whistle blows and the ball is swung in, but it's a shit corner and Kling clears it to my left. Hinkle and I both race for the ball and I get there first and nutmeg her, which causes the crowd to get loud, then I take off towards the goal.

As I'm racing towards goal I look up at the big screen that is showing the game and I see Hinkle bearing down on me. I slow down so I can show off and when Hinkle catches up to me she gets in front of me.

This outta be fun.

I do a couple step overs and notice Hinkle waiting for an opening to get the ball so I give her one. She tries to get the ball, but I Marseille turn the ball away from her making her fall over somehow which makes the crowd scream in excitement.

Once away from Hinkle I slam my foot into the ball and it rocket's into the top corner making it 1-0.

After the ball is in the net I go to turn around to walk back to our side of the field, but I'm immediately tackled to the grass. The rest of the team then come over and celebrate for a little bit then we head to our side.

As we are walking back I see Hinkle looking at me with her fists balled. Knowing she can't do shit to me I walk near her.

"Better get comfortable down there." I say then I'm pulled away.

"Nope. We don't need you getting red carded." Christine says then drags me toward our side and a couple seconds later the whistle restarts the game.

In the 28th minute the Courage are attacking our goal when Emily steals the ball and clears it up field. I run after it and right before I get to it I get pulled down by my shirt then I hear a whistle blow.

"OH FUCK OFF SHE FELL." I hear a whiny voice say and instantly know it's Hinkle.

I feel like she hates me for some reason. The only time I even know she exist is when we play the Courage.

After I hear her voice I get up off the ground and take off my jersey

"Here." I say and throw my jersey at her. "If you want it so much take it."

Hinkle throws my jersey on the ground and goes to say something, but the ref comes over and gives both of us yellow cards.

"How is that a card?" Hinkle says then Sam comes over and drags her teammate away.

"Oh shut up and get on with the game." Sam says.

After Sam drags her teammate away I pick up my jersey and put it back on as some of the girls walk up to me

"Fuck that was funny." Kling says.

"She apparently wanted my jersey so I gave it to her." I say then walk over to join the rest of the team since we get an indirect free kick.

"Cairo." Lindsey says.

"Yes Lindsey."

"Be careful."

"I will Princess." I say

The free kick doesn't amount to any thing and the rest of the half is very back and forth, but at halftime the score is still 1-0.

I don't know what the coach of the Courage said at halftime, but he must have said something to piss the team off because the game becomes very chippy. All of their players are flying into tackles and the yellow cards are piling up.

In the 87th minute I race for a ball with a defender trailing me when suddenly I'm shoved from behind making me go flying to the ground.

"AHHH" I scream and slam my fist into the ground.

I then roll over and sit up and catch my breath as the team come over to me.

"Cairo are you okay?" Hayley asks.

"Who was it?" I ask.

"Who do you think?" Emily says and helps me up.

"Get me the ball and get the fuck out of the way." I say then jog down field.

Emily stand takes the free kick and when the whistle blows and Emily kicks the ball to me. I bring the ball down out of the air and stall it then let it drop and face toward goal.

"FUCK HER UP CAIRO." I hear Ash yell from behind me making me internally laugh.

Hopefully she is in the front row otherwise I'd hate to be sitting around her when she yells.

It looks like the Courage want to see what will happen between me and Hinkle, who is in front of me, because they are giving us space. Abby is the next closest Courage defender, but she is probably 15 yards away.

After stalling for 10 seconds I dribble at Hinkle, who's in between me and the goal, and do a couple step overs. Hinkle then runs at me so I elastico nutmeg her then I run towards goal, but Abby goes to cut me off. When she gets close to me I rainbow the ball over the both of us. After it takes one bounce I put my laces through the ball and it flies past the keeper putting the game to rest.

"Yo you put her on her ass twice today." Emily says as we celebrate.

"What?" I say and look over and see Hinkle on the ground. "Can she not stay on her feet ever?"

"I don't know, but hey we won the championship." Ellie says.

As we walk back I look at Hinkle and wink.

"Better luck next year." I say.

As soon as the Courage restart the game the whistle blows and the players on the bench run onto the field. After the podium is set up we get our medals and then hoist the trophy.

While all the other girls are celebrating I shower and change quickly. After I change I slip out of the locker room and head to the bus. Once on the bus I sit down in the back and close my eyes.

"Cairo?" I hear Tobin say.

I stay quiet acting like I'm asleep.

"Nice try Cairo." Tobin says and sits next to me. "So what's wrong?"

"Just tired" I say and Tobin raises an eyebrow at me. "I'm fine."

"Alright." Tobin says then walks out of the bus.

A minute later, as I'm looking out the window, out of the corner of my eye I see a flash of blonde sit next to me. The person grabs my hand causing me to look at them and I should've known who it would be.

"What's wrong Cairo?" Lindsey asks.

"I'm fine." I whisper which causes Lindsey to put her hand on my face and brush my cheek with her thumb.

"Baby I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong."

"I-I-It's been 8 years."

"8 years?" Lindsey asks and I nod.

She has a confused look on her face then a minute later her face softens.

"Oh baby." Lindsey says and brings my head to her chest as I start crying. "I'm so sorry Cairo."

- - - - -

"Okay what's next on the list?" I ask.

A week after we won the NWSL Lindsey moved in with me in LA and today we are getting groceries.

"Rice, noodles, a couple different types of meat, and drinks are in the next few aisles so that's what we need." Lindsey says as we turn onto the next aisle and stop in front of the different types of noodle.

While Lindsey is figuring out which noodles we need I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her and put my chin on her shoulder. I then hear something that really pisses me off.

"Speak English in this country you dumb immigrant."

I turn my head and see some middle age white woman berating an employee of the store. Someone else walks up to her and checks her on what she just said, but she denies it even though everybody in the store heard her say it. Her and what I assume is her husband turn on to the aisle we are on and start gossiping about one of her friends cheating. When she sees us she looks disgusted.

"Dumb lesbians." I hear her say even though she tried to whisper.

"Ma'am do you need something?" I ask as a lot of people turn onto the aisle we are on.

"I need you two to not do that in my society."

"First off you don't own society. Second we can do whatever the fuck we want to do out in public because, incase you forgot, this is a free country."

"The bible says you two are an abomination."

Not this again.

"John 13:34 a new commandment that I give unto you, that you love one another. John 8:7 he, who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone... John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." I grab Lindseys hand then stare at the idiotic women. "Don't you dare tell me how to live my life. Who I love does not matter to you. I love my girlfriend with all my heart the same as you love your husband. Just because the Bible says something you're going to believe it aren't you ?" She nods. "Well then you are sinning right now."

"And how am I doing that?" She says with a smirk.

Game over.

"Your shirt is made of a polyester cotton mix, you just mistreated that worker over there just because he doesn't speak the same language as you and then when someone checked you on it you lied and said you didn't do it, your husband saved his beard not to long ago, your hair needs to be cleaned up with all those split ends, and you were gossiping with your husband about one of your friends cheating on someone when according to Leviticus 5:1 you will be held responsible for not telling your friend...The other things I listed you can go look up throughout Leviticus. We may not be YOUR idea of a perfect couple, but I love my girlfriend with all my heart and one day I'm going to marry her and we will have children who treat people better than you do. Our children will know to respect other peoples race, religion, or sexuality and judge them not on who they love or the color of their skin or what language they speak, but for the content of their character."

"You're still sinning."

THIS BITCH.

"Well if it's a sin to do this." I say then passionately kiss Lindsey. "Then I will gladly sin for the rest of my life."

"Ma'am is there a problem here?" A man who I guess is the manager here asks.

"Yes these two need to be removed from the store. They are making me uncomfortable." The middle age white woman says.

"I wasn't asking you." He says to the homophobe then turns to Lindsey and I. "Is everything okay?"

"No, that lady" I say and point at the bitch. "Berated one of your employees just because he didn't speak the same language as her. Then she told my girlfriend and I that we shouldn't be who we are just because she was bothered by it even though we did nothing to her. "

"Okay." He says and calls security over then motions to the middle aged white couple.

"Please remove them from the store. I am banning them from the store for life."

"WHY BECAUSE SOME DUMB LESBIANS SAID WE UPSET THEM." The bitch yells.

"Oh you didn't upset us. You just made yourself look like a homophobic, racist, bitter bitch." Lindsey says causing the people around us to clap.

As they are being walked out her husband finally speaks up. "We really need to have a talk when we get home."

"BOUT TIME YOU SAY SOMETHING." Someone yells.

I turn to Lindsey and put my hands on her hips and pull her close to me. "Are you okay?" I ask.

"Yes baby. Thank you for standing up for us." Lindsey says and pulls me into a hug.

"I always will." I say then peck her lips. "Now...where were we?"