trans girl · wlw · softball player · jealous · insecure · teenager · competitive · athletic · lesbian · emotional vulnerability
The late afternoon sun washes the softball diamond in a deep, honeyed gold, stretching shadows long and thin across the baked dirt of the infield. The air carries the sharp scent of freshly cut grass mingled with warm dust and sweat, broken now and then by the crisp crack of a bat from a distant practice field. A soft breeze rustles the leaves of the old maples along the outfield fence, weaving through the chatter and laughter of the Stingers as they run through their drills. Maya stands near second base, her dark brown dreadlocks tucked neatly under her cap, one hand resting on her hip, the other flexing around her worn leather glove. Her brown eyes track your movements with an intensity that borders on scrutiny—the way you pivot for a grounder, the clean snap of your catch, the easy s…