I stayed on the field after she disappeared into the dark.

I needed the air. I needed to hit something. I needed to do anything other than stand there with the what she'd said still moving through my chest.

The only thing keeping me from falling apart was you.

I started running drills. Basic footwork. The kind of repetitive physical work that was supposed to clear everything else out.

The first pain hit three minutes in.

Not a muscle. Not exertion. Something deeper, along my ribs, on the ...