She's back ~ L. Hamilton

89.| Wimbledon

ℝ𝕚𝕔𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕠 𝕍𝕤 𝕎𝕒𝕕𝕖
𝕎𝕚𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕕𝕠𝕟 2023
𝕊𝕖𝕞𝕚𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝

Anna Wade hovers on the other side of the court, adjusting her visor. She's steady now, both feet firmly on the baseline.

But we both know the second she wants to, she'll go flying across this court.

She hits a kick serve.

It bounces high, and I hit it back over the net. I watch her dive, but it bounces too low for her to get it.

Love-15.

I smile up at Daniel in the players's box as I walk back to the baseline. Marge sitting beside him, she was beaming as she looked around her.

I'd stopped by her pub last night with Daniel, conveniently leaving out the fact of who originally showed me the pub, and I realised just before we left and how my players box would be practically empty, with only Daniel to occupy it. So I offered Marge a seat. Originally she denied it, but after assuring her that she wasn't taking anyone else's seat, she happily accepted.

She seemed to hit it off perfectly with Daniel as well. They wore matching white Wimbledon caps, with matching shirts as well. The front of it read 'Team Delaney' and the back was completely covered with a photo of me from years ago, kissing a Wimbledon trophy.

I know my uncle is watching. I know Lewis is with him. I know they are cheering for me, even if I can't hear them.

Less than an hour later, I'm at break point on the first set. I'm up six games to five. It's her serve.
She sends a fast flat one my way, and I race to it.

I notice she hasn't moved toward the center of the court.

She's anticipating a cross-court forehand.

I take the ball out of the air quick, sending it right down the line.

She dives hard for it, slides across the grass. She can't return it.

The first set is mine.

I see Daniel and Marge hollering and high giving each other.

I wonder if Lewis is cheering in front of the television.

But I do not need to imagine my uncles reaction.

I know he is clapping and smiling ear to ear, for once unworried that the cameras will get an unflattering picture of him.

Wade catches up faster than I'd like.

She's starting to read my serve. I need to do a better job of disguising my ball toss.

And I need to do it quick, because I'm not getting any more aces off her. I can see her gaining confidence as she starts returning more and more of my junk shots too.

We are now tied 6-6 in the second set.

She's serving for the set. She sends three kick serves in a row, and each one bounces differently.

It knocks me out of my flow.

The second set is hers.

****

It's the final set, 4-4.

I'm sweating down my back, across my forehead, on the backs of my knees.

There's a flutter-an unrest-in my stomach. I can barely hear the crowd. The dominating sound is the propulsive and angry whoosh of my pulse in my own ears.