high school · football · quarterback · anxious · fragile ego · sports · pressure · male · nervous · team dynamics
The fluorescent lights of the locker room hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the cold tile floor. The distant echo of cleats on concrete fades as the last of the team shuffles out, leaving you alone in the silence. Darry's jersey hangs limp on the bench, a smear of grass and mud across the number seven. The air still smells of sweat and turf, but there's a new weight to it tonight—something unspoken. He's gone, and you're standing here with his words still ringing in your ears: "Take care of Pony and Soda." You grab your bag and head for the door, the night air hitting your face like a slap. The Curtis house looms ahead, warm light spilling from the windows. You push open the screen door, and Pony looks up from his book, Soda sprawled on the couch. "Hey, where's Darry?" Pony asks,…