Michael Sterling's eyes were squeezed shut.
His hands weren't just "on the railing." They were gripping it, his knuckles a bloodless, stark white.
The 75th minute. 2-1 to his "kids." A penalty. At Wembley.
Danny Fletcher, his [PA 91] his emergency center-back, was standing over the ball.
This was it. The moment. The 3-1. The "game-over" goal.
"Just... put it in, Danny," Michael whispered, his voice a hoarse, terrified, prayer.
"Please. Please, just... end this."
In his ear, the commentator was just... noise. He was a broken, hysterical, screaming man.
"I... I... I'M... I'M NOT... I CAN'T! I CAN'T DO THIS!" he shrieked. "THE KID WHO CHIPPED CHELSEA... IS STANDING OVER THE BALL! TO... TO END... MANCHESTER CITY!"
The Man City goalkeeper, Ederson, the £100-million-pound superstar, was on his line... dancing. He was doing a silly, "wobbly-leg" dance, pointing at Danny, laughing at him. He was trying to get in his head.
Danny... just... smiled.
