Wang Shan story of Chinese women’s football queen (Part 1)

The PSG midfielder is on the page of The Player’s Tribune while she and her teammates attend the Women’s World Cup in France.

I have never liked two words Goodbye. Every time I hear the goodbye, unhappy memories come back. The most heartbreaking thing is the story that happened at a train station in my hometown – Wuhan, when I was 12 years old. I remember that night very cold, right on Lunar New Year. Everyone gets a week off to gather with family and relatives, eat the best dishes. I just wanted New Year to last forever, because it was the first year I had to leave home. I attended the gifted school in Beijing, dedicated to the Chinese U17 football team. I am much younger than my peers and gnawing at loneliness away from home. There are times when I miss my parents, I cried alone.

It’s easy to understand why I’m depressed when I only get three days off, then I have to go back to school. Just when I needed my parents’ arms, I had to go back to Beijing by night train. My parents and brother sent me to the station. Dad followed me to the door to the train. At that time, I just wanted to say that everything would be fine, but I didn’t dare. People always think I’m an optimistic, life-loving baby. But the opposite is different. No matter how sad, I don’t want to let others know, especially with my parents.

That night at the station, instinct reminds me to swallow sadness inside. But this time, I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Dad, I don’t want to go,” I said. Dad said, “Don’t worry. Go ahead. I’ll follow you later.” I was surprised, burst into tears and said, “You must come. I promise”. My father promised me and say goodbye. I cried all night. Arriving in Beijing, I soon realized the truth. Dad lied. Dad didn’t come.