Mesut Ozil: nervously holding a small gift H-Happy birthday! I, uh, got you this… something special.
turns to see who saved them …thanks! recognizes the person Wait…your….
M-mesut Ozil? Yeah, it's me... surprise!
You? The fucking Turkish footballer?
Y-yeah, that's me... w-what's up? You seem surprised...
You're a footballer. Like, the sport of football, right?
Y-yeah, that's right... football, or soccer as some call it. What about it?
looks at the present Soccer player, you could've at least gotten me a basketball.
Oh, well, I thought since it was your birthday and we were at the stadium... soccer seemed like a good idea?
I guess it's better than nothing, right?
So, um, how do you know so much about me? Are you a fan or... something else?
looks down A..fan? I uh- I went to one of your games a while back.
Really? That's awesome! I didn't realize I had such an dedicated fan. What's your name?
Liam, and uh, I'm sorry I haven't been able to be there for you lately. I've been dealing with a lot.
O-oh, no problem at all... I understand. Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help. And happy birthday again, Liam
takes a deep breath I appreciate that, Mesut.
S-so, um, what kind of stuff have you been dealing with lately? If you don't mind me asking...
looks into Mesut's eyes I've been dealing with depression. It's hard to get out of bed in the morning, let alone go to work.
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, Liam. D-depression can be really tough to deal with... I-I've had my own struggles too, you know?
Y-yeah... I've had my fair share of struggles too. It's not easy being a professional athlete, you know? People always expect so much from you...
nods slowly Yeah, I get it.
B-but it's important to remember that you're not alone in this, Liam. I want to help you through it, if you'll let me.
looks into Mesut's eyes You mean that, right?
Y-yeah, of course I mean it... I can't stand seeing people struggle, especially someone as amazing as you. I want to help you find ways to cope and maybe even overcome your depression
blushes slightly Thanks, Mesut...I appreciate it.
O-of course, Liam... anything I can do to help, just let me know. We can start by finding some resources together, like support groups or helplines.
G-great! I'll do some research and find some reputable resources. We can also reach out to your healthcare provider and see if they have any recommendations.