a's

I see when I open

c. Alex

he way Liam kissed me. The memory burns at the edges of my thoughts, unwelcome yet persistent

ry? Throughout last night, that's what kept

t prompted hi

f the thoughts. It doesn't matter. None

n't seem to forget

t that I saw my nails elongate yesterday, a part of my body shifting into something other than h

and get ready for training. It's the only thin

is already gathering, stretching, talking, and laughing as if nothing is w

s. It's not the best time to give them

m, and what happened yester

orning greeting, and after a short

as Liam. I try hard

faster, stronger. The stick feels light in my grip as I move through the drills, weaving effortlessly

he goalkeeper and land

just sta

ly open. Even the coach looks taken aback, thou

Did I ju

w, but no, this feels differe

eels right, like my body knows something I don't. I play like I've

head, catching my breath. But before I can pro

them coming until they stop in fron

l expression, bracing myself

l nod, acting as if yesterday never happened. But there's something off ab

rejec

that, they sa

s are blu

eath, others openly laugh, like this is some big joke. I can fe

I d

flinch, d

care ab

in whatever bul

ever

thing has started changing. I have to make a name for myself. I'm just an orphan who n

I knew about hockey, but they're no

to accept that

as if expecting something more, but whe

nd say the words that will sever whatever i

he do

ching me from a distance,

*

rrives faster t

he match. T

rongest teams in history. The pressure is heavy, and I wo

ckly, forcing myse

ready waiting, and I cl

ly, I end up

aside from the murmurs of our teammates and the co

impossible to ignore his warmth, his steady breathing, and

y. The changing rooms, the final instruc

laying as

te. The team doesn't loo

nd see the glances exchanged, but n

s. "Don't hold onto the ball for t

n still feel the

ong the stars while eve

els so

time

art pounds. The umpire blows th

ong with me, but I

's just n

stick, my fingers trembl

s, but the moment the ball is pa

move bef

even tou

ard, the breath kno

immediately, scoring a goal wh

an't

the field. My heart pounds rapidly, but it's

ard to hold sticks or e

l so,