See You Next Saturday

Breaking Point

The city pulsed with the afternoon rush, and Ezra felt its rhythm seep into his bones as he navigated the bustling streets. His steps were easy, his shoulders loose, but the glint in his eyes hinted at a quiet determination beneath his calm exterior.

Today was different. Today, he felt lighter—like a weight he'd carried for years had finally begun to lift.

The sun warmed his face as he wove through the crowd, moving with the unhurried grace of someone who knew exactly where they were headed.

There was a spring in his step, an air of confidence that hadn't been there in a long time. People passing by might have noticed the rare smile tugging at his lips or the way his eyes gleamed a little brighter. For once, things were falling into place.

He had just made his second-to-last drop, the exchange smooth as silk. Now there was only one more delivery left, the biggest one yet, and after that, he was done. No more dealing, no more double life.

He could finally leave that life behind, and with the money he'd collectively made through the weeks, he'd be set for a very long time.

He would have enough to fix up his home—restore his room, make it the kind of place Alex would want to continue visiting, and maybe even sleep over one day... only that time, she would do it willingly—not because she was barely conscious.

He would have enough to buy his grandmother something special, a way to show her how much he appreciated everything she'd done for him. Their struggle was far from over but he felt confident that wouldn't be the case for much longer.

On the weekend he planned to take Alex out on a date, a real one—somewhere nice.

And after the last drop today? Football tryouts. Just the idea of being back on the field made his heart race. It had been too long since he felt that rush, the sense of purpose and connection that only the game could give him.

Ezra felt good—confident. For the first time, his future wasn't just a vague hope. It was within reach. He had the money, he had the girl, and soon, he'd have football too.

But first, he had to get through one last hurdle.

As he moved through the crowd, he spotted his target—a man standing near the corner, looking around nervously. Ezra had seen that look before; the guy was trying to blend in but was failing miserably.

He made his way over, careful to avoid drawing attention. As he approached, he deliberately bumped into the man, causing his bag to fall to the ground.

"Sorry, man," Ezra muttered, crouching down to help pick up the bag. Their eyes met briefly, and in that moment, an understanding passed between them. The man handed Ezra his bag while taking the other in return. It was a seamless exchange, practiced and precise.

Ezra walked away, his heart pounding with adrenaline, but there was a grin on his face. It was done. No more drug dealing, no more hiding that part of his life from Alex.

She had said she didn't want to know about his dark side, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was lying to her by keeping it a secret. Now, he could tell her everything, knowing he was done with it for good.

He glanced at his watch. Tryouts were in less than half an hour. He needed to hustle if he was going to make it.

But just as he was about to break into a run, a car pulled up in front of him, screeching to a halt. Ezra froze, his stomach dropping as he saw the flashing lights. A police car.