In This Life I Became a Coach

Chapter 36: Second Half – Collapse and Cold Silence

Chapter 36: Second Half – Collapse and Cold SilenceThe wind didn’t shift. The rain hadn’t returned.

But the pressure did.

The second half began with a metronome’s patience—Monaco pushing, prodding,

Hotel suite. Monte-Carlo skyline long forgotten.

Demien sat in the glow of his laptop, the only light in the room. Shirt off. Hair still damp. He didn’t reach for his notebook.

The screen played on mute—Lyon’s last match, frozen frames of their 3–1 win.

He rewound. Watched the same 12-second clip for the third time.

Midfield press trigger. Left half-space overload.

Pause.

Play.

He didn’t blink.

Just leaned forward.

Somewhere outside, the wind pulled at the balcony chair cushions.

Demien didn’t hear it.