The sun beat down on my back, highlighting the sweat beading down the back of my neck. My arms quaked with the weight of the bat. 

"Hudson, you won't drop that bat, will you?" Coach Kidman shouted from across the field. 

I groaned. Why had I really thought she let me off the hook for missing weights? Now she was making me hold my bat above my head to make up for missing it. It wasn't bad at the beginning because the bat didn't weigh that much, but it got much worse when I hit the ten minute mark. 

The girls around me snickered. I honestly couldn't believe Coach would make them watch me. Harper especially looked grateful that I was enduring this pain. I wondered if she blamed me for her breakup with Trent. Not that it was my fault, though. I didn't tell him to cheat on her. That was his choice.

Stars appeared on my vision for a second. I really wanted to drop the bat, but if I did, Coach Kidman said I'd be on the bench for the rest of the season. I was pretty sure that this was illegal, but I didn't think she cared. She had a gleeful expression painted on her face. I wanted to smack it right off with my bat.

"Hudson!" Coach Kidman yelled. 

"What?" My voice sounded feeble. Pain raced through my shoulders and arms. Slowly, my fingers were going numb.

"You have an audience!"

"I thought I already had one!" My body burned with anger when she pointed behind me. Cheers rang out, and I realized the track boys ran this route. "When can I drop this?"

"When the sun starts to go down!"

I glanced at the sky and scoffed. I couldn't do this. It was at least five in the afternoon in the middle of April. The sun usually started going down at eight. Either she was joking with me or she was being completely serious. I prayed it was a joke.

Kiley said something to Coach Kidman that made her turn away from me. I immediately dropped the bat, and dust rose from the dirt. My arms shook and pain raged through my shoulders to my fingertips. Tears pricked my eyes.

"Hudson, I didn't say to drop the bat!"

I sent my most hateful glare to her and grabbed my bat from the ground. Every inch of my arm screamed in agony, but I made my way to her. "I don't care if I'm on the bench or if I'm even on the team," I snapped. "I shouldn't have had to do that for fifteen minutes. Coach Henry would've never done that to any of us."

I threw my bat at her feet and turned on my heel, storming away. Some of the girls stepped out of my way. I bet I looked like I was ready to murder someone. I really felt like I could have. Someone tapped on my shoulder, and I turned my fury on her.

"What?" I snapped.

The new girl on the varsity team - Lacey or something - raised her hands, acting like I was going to hit her. Her face grew pale, but she continued to stand in front of me. "I didn't think she could do that," she said in a rush, her cheeks turning pink.

"Me either." I picked up my softball bag from off the ground and winced. "I miss our old coach."

"I never met her," she answered, taking my bag our of my hand. I almost protested that move because I was very protective of it, but I allowed her to. My arms screamed at me every time I moved them. "But I think we all can agree this coach sucks."

"I'm glad this is my last year." I paused and grabbed my keys out of a small pocket in my bag. "I love softball like it's my brother, but I won't pursue it in college."

"Why?" she asked. After that, she looked like she regretted saying that. "I mean -"

"It's fine," I said, nodding. "But I want to do something different with my life. I've been playing softball for almost my whole life. I want something new."

"That makes sense." She waited a beat, and I knew what she was going to say before it left her mouth. "But you're the best player on the team."

A smile cracked through my frown. "I don't really believe that, but thank you anyway." She nodded. I popped the trunk on my car and she plopped the bag into it. "Thank you for helping me."

"You're welcome."

I slipped into my car and sighed. My arms hadn't let up on the assault of pain, so I dialed up my mother. I was supposed to volunteer at the hospital tonight, but I just couldn't. 

"Hey, Cat!" Mom said, sounding confused. "What's up?"

"I can't come tonight," I said. 

"Why?"

When I told her what happened, she started yelling. I cringed and brought the phone away from my ear. I knew she was beyond mad. So was I. 

"What's her name?" she asked, her voice hard.

"Um, let me think." I didn't really try to learn her name because it was my senior year and she was new. I tapped my chin before thinking better of it. "I think her name is Diane Kidman."

"Thank you. I'm going to talk to the principal tomorrow."

"What?" I asked. "No!"

"Why not?"

"This is my battle. I will talk to the principal."

She didn't answer for the longest time, and I thought she hung up on me. "Fine. Just don't forget, okay?"

"Okay."

"I'll see you when I get home."

"Bye."

I hung up and threw my phone in the passenger seat. My arms still hurt, but I shoved the key into the ignition anyway. I didn't really need my arms for driving, did I? I could use my knees to turn. 

Guilt slowly ebbed into my chest. Those kids at the hospital had a blast every time I showed up. Most didn't have many visitors. I turned onto the road toward the hospital. I could spend a few minutes with them.

I shut the car off and jumped out of the car. Taking a quick whiff, I sighed. I didn't smell the best, and I bet I looked worse. My uniform hadn't been washed a few days, so dirt stains traveled down my legs. 

I still headed inside. They wouldn't complain. Hopefully. Most nurses knew who I was, so I didn't have to worry about checking in or anything. The walk was short to the pediatric center, and I entered the main hallway. It was much brighter in this area of the hospital. Vivid colors raced across the walls to make the children feel safe and warm. 

A nurse waved to me, and I waved back. "Is Miss Margaret here?" I asked her.

"Yes. She's in her room."

"Thank you."

I forced a smile on my face before stepping into Margaret's room. There was something wrong with her thyroid, but I didn't know the whole story. All I knew was that nothing would work to get it better, so she needed to stay in the hospital for a little bit.

"Catherine!" she said excitedly. Her eyes brightened up when she noticed my uniform. "Did you have a game today?"

I shook my head. The smile seemed easier now that I stood here. "No. I had practice today."

"Oh, that's cool!" She nodded enthusiastically, and I laughed. 

"How was your day today?" I asked.

She shrugged. Her small face lost a little color, and I knew it was more tests today. "What about you?" she asked instead.

"It was good," I said, nodding. I sat down next to her bed and glanced at the TV. A random channel was playing, but she had her full attention to me.

"How is Harvey?"

I smiled. Margaret had taken a liking to him when he came with me one time. "He's great," I answered. "He has a baseball game in a few days."

"I wish I could see him play," she said dreamily. My smile faltered. She hadn't had a normal life in the month and a half that I've known her. "Is he good?"

"One of the best." She still had that dreamy look on her face, so I stood up. I couldn't see it any longer. "I have to go," I said, wrapping her in a short hug. Her small arms wrapped around me, and I smiled. "I'll see you next week, okay?"

"Okay."

Her blonde hair shone in the light, giving her a small halo. I smiled one last time before exiting her room. For some reason, I was being very emotional recently. I usually don't show my emotions on my sleeves. 

I sat in my car for a second and pressed my forehead into the steering wheel. Cold seeped into my bones even though it was nearly eighty degrees outside. Everything about Margaret's situation hurt me. She didn't have a normal life like I did. She, of all people, deserved to live a long and prosperous life. 

An idea slowly formed in my head as I drove home. I just hoped the hospital staff and her parents wouldn't kill me.