Leo woke up to the dim grey of early dawn seeping through the curtains.
For a moment, he just sat there on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees, his hair slightly tousled from sleep as he rolled his head on his neck.
His eyes blinked slowly as the quiet filled the room, the faint hum of the air conditioner, the soft, steady breathing of his roommate, Carlo, still asleep on the other side.
He muttered a small, half-asleep prayer under his breath, something quick and habitual, before exhaling and pushing himself to his feet, his bare soles pressing against the cold floor as he walked toward the balcony.
The sliding door gave a faint clack when he pulled it open, and a chill breeze rushed in.
Outside, the sky was still heavy with night, though the faintest traces of blue were starting to bleed through.
The training complex below was silent, the pitches empty, but the floodlights were still on.
