“He’s out!” I signal while jumping up and down and shouting.

The official closes his fist and raises it above his shoulder. “Out!”

Out! That’s three! Game over! We win!

We win. We won the World Series. Every muscle in my body flexes as the infielders swarm me. It takes all my strength to remain upright. I can’t risk injury on the bottom of a dogpile. Adrenaline courses through my veins as warmth engulfs me.

I struggle to pull in a breath and ...