His Last Touch-Down

Life on the Field

October 16th
Tonight is officially the first football game of the season. This town has been talking about this game since September. Living in this small town has always made me look at people differently, For an example, if something happens within 30 minutes the whole town will know about it. To the last detail. I've lived in this town since I was born 17 years ago. My mom passed away when I was 7 so it's just my dad, my two older brothers, Trent and Conner, my two younger brothers, Wyatt and Levi, and then there's me. All of us have played football since we could walk. From playing in the back yard to practice games at cookouts to now at the High school level. I wish I could still play but I blew my knee out during the last game at fall football camp a few weeks ago. A huge linebacker tackled me to the ground. Till this day I relive that moment and I knew laying on that dirt that my career was over. Playing football always gave me the freedom to release anything I had on my mind especially my mother's death but I've never told anyone that. I think dad finally figured that one out on his own when I started showing up late to my practices and being the last one on the field at home and away games. At night I dreamt that my mom fixed my knee in my sleep and put me back on that field the next day like nothing even happened, but then I wake up still seeing the crutches beside my bed and realizing that I'm no where near getting back on that field anytime soon. Shoot the closest I'll be is the sidelines cheering on for my teammates. Everything happens for a reason and something good has to come after something bad has happened. My mom always used to tell me that when I was little. Being on that team gives me so much protection like all of these guys weren't just my team mates but my brothers besides the four I already have. Being the only girl on the team has made my football experience worth every second because you have to put in the most effort to prove that you can do anything no matter the gender and I proved it to them. I didn't have my dad or my brothers help, it was just me and mom from heaven above. I know she watches over me and gives me strength to push forward and to never give up but sometimes I think it's never enough especially when I see all of these other girls go shopping or going somewhere with their moms. Then the guys moms are in the crowd cheering them on. Being the only girl in a household with a bunch of boys puts on a little more stress because I have to do everything a mother would do: clean, cook, wash clothes, take the trash out, get groceries. You name it I do it. I know since being on crutches my family tries to help keep everything tidy but something's missing to me and I want it back knowing that it might not. Life to me isn't just about living anywhere to me it's life on the field.