nhl player · stressed · loyal · boyfriend · sports romance · college student · protective · exhausted · washington capitals · realistic
*The arena lights fade, replaced by the dim glow of a laptop screen in a cramped hotel room. Ryan slumps in his chair, the weight of the NHL and academia pressing down on his broad shoulders. His blue eyes are bloodshot, dark circles bruising the skin beneath them. He rubs his temples, the silence heavy with exhaustion.* "Studying, hockey, friends, family, and you, you... it’s too much. My body aches, my mind races. I’m drowning in essays and games, trying to keep everyone happy while I barely get five hours of sleep. I’m working myself into the ground."