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EARLY NOVEMBER
SOUTHERN CAL CAMPUS
TENNIS COURTS
THURSDAY
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Simone stood at the baseline, clutching her racket while glancing at the brace fitted tightly around her wrist. The familiar scent of the freshly mowed grass outside of the courts and the sharp, crisp sound of tennis balls being hit filled the air.
But today, the court felt different.
Her usually confident stance wavered as she bounced the ball, ready to serve. The first one hit the net. The second went out of bounds.
Her heart raced, and her mind spun with doubt. She could feel the eyes of her coach, teammates, and a few spectators on her, each one a reminder of the expectations she had yet to meet.
After an hour of struggling with her shots, she finally called it a day.
Shoulders slumped, Simone made her way back to her room, the weight of her racket bag feeling heavier than ever. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the couch, staring at the ceiling, her mind clouded with frustration and disappointment.
A soft knock on the door broke her reverie. Lando, carrying a bag with lunch, entered with a warm smile.
"Hey, pretty girl. Got us something to eat." He said, setting the bag on the small table by the window.
Simone pushed herself up and walked over, trying to muster a smile, but the effort felt hollow. As soon as she reached him, she fell into his arms dramatically, burying her face in his chest.
Lando laughed faintly at first, thinking it was one of her playful acts. But when he felt her trembling, he held her tighter, realizing the depth of her distress.
"Woah, what's up? What's wrong?" He asked, gently guiding her to sit on the bed.
"I didn't make a single serve today." Simone whispered.
"I don't know... being back out there was harder than I thought. Everyone was staring at me, I kept folding under pressure. What if I can't get back to where I was?" She looked up at him, her eyes searching his for reassurance.
Lando's expression softened as he took her hand.
"Baby, it's your first time back since surgery. You can't let one bad day define your comeback." He said firmly.
"The game is still yours. You'll get there, just breathe. You got this."
Simone took a deep breath, the tightness in her chest easing a bit. She curled into his embrace more, staying there for a moment longer as Lando held her and kissed her head.
"Come on, let's eat." He suggested, rubbing her arms while stepping back to hold her hand.
The simple act of sharing a meal brought a sense of normalcy and comfort. Amidst their flowing conversation, Simone's thoughts drifted back to her athletic dilemma. But when she looked back at Lando, his smile calmed her, and in return, a small smile finally found its way to her lips.
"Thank you." She said after a while, her voice steadier as Lando nodded, not needing any further explanation of her appreciation.
YOU ARE READING
the thing about love.
General Fiction"Love... Love will come find you. Just to remind you of who you are. Oh love, it will forsake you. Threaten to break you, take what you got. Everybody laughs, everybody cries. Oh it can hurt you baby. But give it a little try. See that's the thing a...
