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TRIGGER WARNING: This story is about mental health and suicide.
CHAPTER 1 OF 3
WORTHLESS
SPRINGTIME 2024
Lucas' head slams on the Hawkins High School basketball court floor.
He's in his basketball jersey, drenched in sweat, and his head slams down on the ground. He feels the pound on the back of his head as soon as it does. Everything starts to spin. He grabs the back of his head, clenches his teeth, and rolls around in pain. Instead of anyone coming to help him, the other Hawkins High basketball players just stare at him. Some sneering, some laughing.
Jason Carver, the head jock of Hawkins High School, rolls his eyes harder than Lucas has ever seen anyone before.
"Seriously, Sinclair?!" Jason angrily exclaims, "You can't even make a basic dunk?"
One of the jocks bursts out laughing, pointing at Lucas rolling around in pain on the floor.
"I could make that when I was six! Isn't this kid, what, 15? 16? I bet my eight year old cousin could make that dunk!" The other jocks burst out laughing.
As Lucas fully regains his vision, he looks around and sees it.
The ENTIRE team is staring down at him, laughing and smiling. Jason. Patrick. The couch isn't laughing, but anyone can tell he isn't amused.
Another one of the basketball players points at Lucas, looks at the coach and says,
"Why is this dumb little freshman even on the team? Look at him! He's worthless!"
That word repeats in Lucas' head...
Worthless...
Worthless...
Worthless...
That pain hits Lucas harder than his head hitting the floor.
All of a sudden, Lucas stands up, and starts to storm out.
One of the jocks goes, "What, Sinclair? Are you going off to cry to your mommy?!"
The other jocks burst out laughing.
Lucas storms into the locker room.
He sees his locker, and then, starts to punch it.
He punches the locker repeatedly.
Then, he SCREAMS.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lucas roars in anger.
He stops, and looks at his right hand.
It's covered in blood, swollen up, throbbing. The pain starts to kick in.
