Light At The End Of The Tunnel

The Present Day...

The door creaked open, Dennis Haar and Hans van de Zee stepped into the hospital room, their footsteps echoing softly on the sterile tiles.

The two AZ Alkmaar representatives were calm, their expressions a mix of professionalism and empathy as they approached the bed where Benjamin lay.

Benjamin, still staring at the ceiling, heard them enter but didn't immediately react.

Coach Jansen, seated beside him, straightened in his chair and gave the men a slight nod of acknowledgment. He recognized the older one, he was part of the scouts that attended the trials.

After the trials yesterday, he had reached out to some of the scouts who had been interested in Benjamin but upon learning of his injury, they lost interest.

Although, Benjamin was a player miles ahead of his peers, the possibility of a reoccurring injury even after surgery made them lose interest.

Dennis Haar cleared his throat softly, breaking the silence. "Good morning, Benjamin, Coach Jansen," he said, his voice calm. His eyes flicked over Benjamin's bandaged knee before resting on his face.

Next to him, Hans van de Zee offered a small smile. "I'm Hans Van de Zee, Chief Scout at AZ Alkmaar. This is Dennis Haar, our Youth Team Coach."

Benjamin slowly turned his head toward them, his gaze weary and filled with suspicion. After all, how was he still of interest to a professional club?

He didn't say anything immediately, his mind still reeling from the news of needing surgery.

The presence of two officials from a professional club should have thrilled him, but instead, a cold sense of dread lingered in the pit of his stomach.

Dennis Haar continued in a gentle tone. "Benjamin, how are you holding up?" His voice carried genuine concern, though there was a firmness to it that suggested they were here for business.

Benjamin turned his head slightly, his eyes dull with exhaustion and frustration. "I've been better," he replied, his voice hoarse from the hours spent lying in silence.

He shifted slightly, wincing as the pain in his knee flared up.

Hans van de Zee, the Chief Scout, stood next to Dennis with a clipboard in his hand. He glanced at the medical equipments, the bandaged leg, and then at Benjamin's face.

His professional demeanor softened just a bit. "We know you're in a difficult spot right now, but we've seen enough to know your potential. We saw your performance at the trials and..."" he continued, keeping his tone gentle, "AZ Alkmaar wants to help."

Benjamin blinked, his heart skipping a beat. Wants to help? What did they mean by that? His mind immediately went to the surgery.

Dennis took a seat on the other side of the bed, facing Benjamin, while Hans remained standing, his clipboard resting by his side. "We've spoken to Max Huiberts, the technical director, and the first team manager, Gertjan Verbeek," Dennis explained.

"They've reviewed your trial footage, gone through your reports. They were both very impressed with what they saw, Benjamin."

For a moment, Benjamin just stared, his mind racing.

To be honest, he hadn't expected this, not after the injury. His heart was pounding now, disbelief swirling but with cautious hope. He looked at Coach Jansen, whose expression softened with a small, encouraging smile.

Benjamin's lips parted, but no words came out.

But soon his brows furrowed, a flicker of hope igniting within him, but he was careful not to let it show. "But," he said, his voice tinged with skepticism, "you should have heard of my injury. What good is that to anyone?"

Hans exchanged a brief glance with Dennis before speaking. "Yes, we've seen your injury records," he acknowledged.

"But the club believes in your potential. They see what you bring to the field. Your awareness, technical ability and leadership. Those are qualities we don't see often, and we're not going to overlook that just because of a setback."

Dennis nodded in agreement. "We've seen plenty of players get injured, Benjamin. What matters is how you come back from it. AZ Alkmaar is prepared to support you through this recovery, but we need to be clear about a few things."

Benjamin felt his chest tighten. This was it, the part where they'd lay out conditions. His fingers gripped the edge of the bedsheet, bracing himself for the worst.

"First," Hans said, "the club is going to cover the cost of your surgery. We've already spoken to the medical team, and arrangements are being made as we speak."

Benjamin's eyes widened in surprise. "You're… you're paying for my surgery?"

Dennis leaned in slightly, his gaze steady. "Yes. We're committed to making sure you get the best care possible. But that's just the start."

Benjamin's heart raced, the words not quite sinking in.

He hadn't expected this, not after everything that had happened. He thought the injury would be the end of the road, but now, they were talking about paying for his surgery. They were giving him a lifeline.

"And after your surgery," Hans continued, "once you've recovered, the club is prepared to offer you a contract."

Benjamin's breath caught in his throat. "A contract?" he echoed, almost disbelieving.

Dennis smiled. "Yes. It'll be a youth contract to start with, of course. But once you're back on your feet and training again, there's a real possibility of moving up to the first team. That's what the manager sees in you."

Benjamin's mind spun trying to absorb what he just heard. A contract. After everything, after the car accident, losing his family, the pain of the past months, the doubts... now they were offering him a chance.

It was more than he could've hoped for.

But alongside the hope came fear. What if he didn't recover the same way? What if he couldn't live up to their expectations?

He swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if I can't come back? What if the surgery… doesn't fix everything?"

Dennis met his gaze with a calm, unwavering look. "That's a risk we're all taking, Benjamin. But we believe in you. The club believes in you. You've already overcome more than most players your age. This is just another challenge, and from what we've seen, you've got what it takes to face it."

Hans nodded. "You'll have the full support of the club's medical and training staff throughout the process. The recovery won't be easy, but if you stay committed, there's no reason you can't come back stronger."

Coach Jansen, who had been silent throughout the conversation, placed a hand on Benjamin's shoulder. "This is your chance, Benjamin," he said quietly. "I've seen you fight through everything life has thrown at you. You can do this."

Benjamin's mind raced, torn between the excitement of the opportunity and the crushing weight of the uncertainty ahead.

He thought about his family, about the promises he'd made to himself after the accident. Could he really push through this? Could he rise above the doubts, the pain?

He looked up at Dennis, then at Hans. "I don't know what to say," he admitted, his voice shaking slightly. "I want this more than anything… but I'm scared."

Dennis's expression softened, and for the first time, his professional demeanor cracked just a little. "That's natural," he said quietly. "Fear comes with the territory. But fear doesn't define you... how you respond to it does."

Benjamin nodded slowly, the words sinking in.

He could feel the weight of their belief in him, the faith they were placing in his potential. It was overwhelming, but it was also motivating.

For the first time in a long while, he felt a spark of hope, something to cling to.

"I'll do it," he said finally, his voice steady. "I'll take the chance."

Hans and Dennis both smiled, a sense of relief washing over the room. "Good," Dennis said, rising to his feet. "We'll handle the rest. The doctors will be in touch soon to schedule the surgery. For now, focus on resting and getting ready for the road ahead."

Hans extended a hand to Benjamin, who shook it firmly. "We're looking forward to seeing what you can do, Benjamin."

As the two men left the room, Benjamin lay back on his bed, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.

The fear was still there, but now, there was something else too...determination. He had been given a second chance, and he wasn't going to waste it.