It should have been the summer of Amine Harit's dreams.
The Moroccan midfielder had just enjoyed a barnstorming debut season in the Bundesliga with Schalke and had played for his country at the World Cup.
But around 10pm on the evening of June 29, 2018, his life took a shuddering turn for the worse.
He was in Marrakesh, driving along with his 14-year-old brother in the passenger seat following a meal out, 'not unusually fast but probably 10 to 15 km/h above the speed limit.'
Suddenly he struck a pedestrian who'd stepped out into the road. The pedestrian, a 30-year-old man, died shortly afterwards.
'The shock!,' Harit later recalled to French newspaper L'Equipe. 'I stopped 100 to 150 metres from the accident because I could hardly realise it.
'I waited for the police, I was in shock. It was the worst moment of my life.'
As Harit was taken into custody and had his passport confiscated, every aspect of his life and football career was up in the air. Would he be allowed back to Germany? Would he even be a free man?
In the end, Harit was sentenced to a four-month suspended sentence and a fine of 8,600 dirhams (equivalent to £700). There was an out-of-court cash settlement with the victim's family.
His passport was returned a week after the crash so he could return for pre-season training with Schalke.
But the shock of the accident and guilt at causing the death weighed heavily on the 21-year-old.
Having been named the 'Bundesliga Rookie of the Year' in 2017-18, the following season was something of a disaster.
Harit suffered with injury problems, disciplinary issues and inconsistent form, at one stage being withdrawn completely from the Schalke first-team squad.
There were also reports Harit asked a Duisburg casino where he'd been spending too many late nights to ban him for his own good.
His slump was one contributory factor in a nightmare campaign for a club that usually compete in the upper reaches of the Bundesliga.
From a second place finish in 2017-18, they flirted with relegation before eventually coming 14th after manager Domenico Todesco was sacked in mid-March and interim Huub Stevens dragged them over the safety line.
'When I was on the pitch, I told myself that I would not succeed. It just didn't feel right in my deepest core,' Harit admitted when reflecting on a troubled season.
By the start of this season, Schalke fans had almost forgotten the X-factor Harit had brought to their team. Fortunately, he has wasted little time in reminding them.
David Wagner, the former Huddersfield Town coach, came in and proved a breath of fresh air at the Veltins-Arena.
As we enter the October international break, Schalke sit sixth in the table but are just two points off the top in a densely-packed top eight.
They have won four of their last five matches, with a rejuvenated Harit demonstrating his class with four goals and two assists in that time.
Wagner has managed to not only restore Harit's confidence following so many difficulties, but has the Moroccan taking personal command of games to gain positive results.
'I feel great confidence from the coach and can now pay it back,' Harit said after the win over Paderborn. 'I work hard, I'm free in the head again and play football, so I want to continue.'
Harit also became father to a baby girl back in May, another factor he credits for his return to top form.
'When I found out I was going to be a father, I clicked. In football, you can fool around, but with a child, you don't have the right to make mistakes. I understand I have to change.' he said.
The way Schalke are playing, there's no reason why they can't finish in the Bundesliga's top four this season. Harit just seems to be getting started.