Chapter 64 – The Edge of Collapse
44th minute.
The cross came from Dalot—deep, looping.
Nathan rose to meet it.
His timing was off, but he leapt anyway.
He twisted mid-air and craned his neck—
THUNK!!
The ball struck his forehead and veered, not toward goal but somewhere between Row Z and the moon.
The crowd groaned in unison.
"Bloody hell…" someone muttered behind the dugout.
Nathan landed and staggered a step, half-expecting applause, half-hoping for a hole to swallow him whole.
That was it? That was your answer?
He didn't even glance at Amorim this time.
The referee blew the whistle a few seconds later.
Halftime.
Score: Nottingham Forest 1 – Manchester United 0.
The tunnel felt colder than it should have. Grey walls, grey floor, a flickering overhead light—it all blurred into one long, silent trudge.
Nathan walked at the back of the pack.
Alone, in a crowd.
His lips moved, barely audible.
"What's happening to me…? This isn't me…"
