Loser!

I've never felt more useless in my life.

Sitting in this cold, metal chair, knee wrapped in ice, all I can do is watch as the game slips further out of our hands.

The screams from the crowd echo like distant thunder in my ears, but none of it matters anymore. The game is lost.

Every missed shot, every blown play-they're killing me. I can almost feel the cold bite of the ice under my skates, the adrenaline burning through my veins, but it's all in my head.

Out there, it's different. I'm not there to make a difference. My boys-my brothers-are out there fighting, but they're drowning without me. And I can't do a damn thing about it.

The clock ticks down, mocking me with every second. I grip the armrests of the chair so hard my knuckles go white.

My knee screams in protest, but I ignore it. The pain is nothing compared to the helplessness.

The loss is inevitable, yet there is a part of me dying deep within myself about how things might have been different.

Just if they didn't played dirty, just if this one time everything was fair and in my hand. Just if I could piece the broken glass back.

The scoreboard flashes in bold, red numbers, confirming what I already know: We've lost.

The final horn blares, loud and cruel. I feel it in my bones, a sound that rips through me.

I force myself to stand. It takes everything I've got not to crumble. The pain is there, sharp and relentless, but I push it aside. I can't leave yet.

Not until the ice is cleared, not until I can look at them-my team-and feel something other than guilt.

They're walking off the ice, heads down, shoulders slumped. Defeated. This wasn't how it was supposed to end. Not for us.

We were better than this. I was supposed to be there, leading them, fighting with them. But instead, I'm here, sidelined, watching everything fall apart.

As I limp toward the exit, watching them lift the trophy we almost had would be the biggest nightmare coming true to life. I'm not a coward but I can't bear this, not now, as I gathered everything in me and got up, something catches my eye.

A girl.

She's standing near the locker room entrance, just out of the shadows. I tried to ignore them thinking maybe this is a private conversation but I couldn't.

She's talking to one of my teammates-Graham, I think. I don't know who she is, but there's something about her that makes me stop. Maybe it's the way she holds herself, calm and confident, like the loss doesn't faze her.

Her soft wavy hair caress her face and highlights her feature. I've never seen her before in any of the games. Maybe she is close to Graham.

I watch as she places a hand on Graham's shoulder. Her voice is soft, but I can hear her. "Chin up," she says, her words simple but strong. "You guys are champions. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. It's been a long day-hell, it's been a long few weeks-but something about what she says makes the weight on my chest ease just a little. I can see it in Graham's face too. She's given him something to hold on to.

And for the first time in what feels like forever, I smile. Just a small, almost imperceptible tug at the corner of my mouth, but it's there. Maybe she's right. Maybe we're not done yet.

As she turns to leave, our eyes meet for a brief second. There's something about her-something I can't quite place.

But before I can figure it out, she's gone, disappearing into the crowd. I'm left standing there, the echo of her words still ringing in my head.

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Hello guys

I hoped you liked the first chapter of my new novel

Do shower all your love to nate and samaira.

Love you always
Byeeeeee