Stupid Love

24

I woke up in agonizing pain. I look around me, this big empty room with a couple of tables and chairs, I don't remember how I got there. All I know is this ringing in my head won't go away, as I try to stand up, but fall instantly.

"Corbin what do you think you're doing?!" A females voice yells at me.

I couldn't respond, my knee felt as if it was torn in half from the inside out. "Where am I?" I asked.

"I'm Jenny, I'm with the facility, you took a big hit out there kid." Jenny says.

"Hit? Like drugs or something?" I asked.

She laughs, "No for your hockey tryout."

I finally get the strength to stand up and look at her, confused. "Hockey tryout?" I asked.

"Yeah for the Avs and Kraken." She replies.

"Oh shit, Did I do well?" I asked.

"That's for these guys to decide." She says helping me stand up straight while Joe and Ron walk into the room.

"Hey Corbin, how are you feeling?" Joe asks.

I shake my head, "Feel like I just fell off a mountain and landed on my knee."

"I'm sorry kid, we wanna talk shop if you want to. If not we completely understand." Joe says.

I shake my head yes. "Yeah let's hear it, how bad was I?"

"Kid you've got amazing speed and knowledge of the game. You can click with whoever is on your line and You skate like an olympic ice skater." Ron says

"I agree with him, and you're determination and grit is something most hockey players don't have. You remind us of a younger version of Mackinnon." Joe says

"We both have different offers, but if you decide to quit on hockey we'll understand. Maybe you can come to a couple of practices down the road just for fun." Ron says.

"Corbin, I'm offering you a 3 year 950k each year contract. You would go to the minors for a little bit then if we need you we'll pull you up to the big league, but that might not be this season or the next." Joe says

My eyes light up, so much money and get the chance to play on my childhood team. That was a no brainer for me until Ron intervened.

"Corbin, I want you to be the face of the franchise. I've done my homework and figured out a way past the system but my contract for you is 3 years 10 million a year, 5 million signing bonus. With a captain status. You wouldn't be going to the minor league, you'd come back with me to Seattle and work with the coach and management right away." Ron said

My jaw dropped, my brain started running at mock 10. I couldn't comprehend what was just offered to me. A big smile went on my face, "Thank you for your time Joe but I'm gonna go with Ron's offer."

He smiled, "Don't worry about it. We'll see you around kid, just take it easy on my team." He says as he shakes my hand and Ron's and just disappears.

"Well Corbin. I'll come back Friday after you're done with work and we'll go back to Seattle. First though we'll have to get you through surgery."

I look at him confused. "What for?"

"Your torn ACL." He says looking and pointing at my knee.

"Oh yeah that." I reply looking embarrassed.

He picks up his phone and dials someone's number, I didn't pay much attention as I look for my phone and my shoes, my vision starts to fade away again. I feel numb as I fall to the ground again.

I wake up and I recognize where I am. I'm back in my apartment in Wyoming. I'm on my nice comfy couch, as I rub my eyes. "What a weird dream," I said out loud as I stand up and a jolt of pain shot up my knee. It felt like the same pain from my dream. I shake my head thinking Im just imagining things as I try to stand up again and fall back down to the couch from the pain again.

I begin to get scared as I reach for my phone on the arm rest. I open it up and see a message from Ron

"Good job today kid, Surgery went well. Had you escorted home with your car, don't worry about the medical bills I got it taken care of. See you Friday!"

My hands begin to shake, "this wasn't a fucking dream?!" I yelled.  Just as I finish I feel my phone buzzing. It's Joey trying to Facetime me. I answered and my phone brightens up.

"Hey," She says.

"Hi" I replied.

"How'd your tryout thing go?" She asked with a smile.

"I don't remember," I told her. "I don't remember going to it, I don't remember playing in it and I don't remember how I got home."

She looks at me with a confused look. "How do you forget that?"

I look away, my head was spinning. I couldn't even hear myself think, the ringing was so loud.

"I remember bits and pieces, I remember getting an offer and playing a little bit but there's so much I don't know about." I said

"Oh wow, well what's the offers you got?" She asks with a smile.

" Colorado offered me 950k for 3 yrs but they would put me in the minor league for a bit. Seattle offered 10 million for 3 yr but I would go right into the big league." I replied

Her eyes light up, "Which one did you take?"

I smiled but then the thought of leaving her popped up in my mind. I didn't want to tell her because she would probably give up on me but I couldn't lie to her, I never have.

"I took Seattles offer." I replied with a big smile.

Her eyes light up and her smile seemed fake. "Well congrats dude I'm so happy for you." She says

I didn't wanna be the bear of bad news, everything we had was getting back to where it was before she left. I was excited. I'd be able to fly out and see her and all my friends if I could.  Everything was finally looking up.

"I have something to talk to you about." She says.

"What is it?" I reply with a big smile. "Maybe she wants us back? Maybe she's gonna come surprise me or something? She finally wants to hangout?" I thought to myself.

"I've been talking to this guy from school named Jason and he's so annoying I swear." She says

I felt my whole heart shatter, I couldn't tell if it was the same feeling from my knee or just pure heartbroken but my whole body went numb after she said that. I didn't even bother to listen, I didn't care. I wanted to break my other knee just so I could get out of talking to her about her stupid fucking guy.

"The fuck is wrong with me? Am I not enough for you or something?" I thought to myself.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I reply, putting on a fake smile. Trying so hard not to scream.

"Oh shit he's calling me, I'll talk to you later superstar." She says as she hangs up before I could reply.

"Oh yeah I'm a fucking superstar. Nice guy turned pro athlete and yet you keep running off to these fucking clowns. I bet they don't give a shit about your life like I do but whatever." I say out loud.