Beyond The Court

3. The court is my escape

The gym is packed tonight, buzzing with energy. But none of that matters. All I care about is the court. Here, I'm in control. Everything else fades—the exhaustion, the memories. The game is all that's real.

From the first whistle, I'm locked in. The ball is in my hands, and I'm moving faster than the defense can react. Layup, three-pointer, drive, score. The rhythm takes over. 

By halftime, I've already scored 26 points. We're up big, and I barely feel the strain. My teammates are all smiles as we head to the bench. 

"Damn, Izzi," Sierra breathes, collapsing onto the seat next to me. "You're unstoppable tonight. You're like a machine out there." 

I take a swig of water, shrugging. "Just doing what I gotta do." 

Sierra laughs, shaking her head. "Well, keep doing it. I've never seen them look so defeated." 

Coach gives us a quick pep talk, but I'm only half-listening. My mind's already in the second half, visualizing every shot, every move. The crowd is loud, but I tune them out. My focus is on the game and nothing else.

When the second half starts, it's like clockwork. Every time I touch the ball, I score. I drive past defenders like they're standing still, draining another three. The scoreboard's getting out of control, but I don't stop. 

"Save some for the rest of us!" Sierra yells, laughing behind me after another basket. 

I smirk, barely glancing back. "Get a rebound then." 

Sierra chuckles. "Yeah, right. No one else needs to score when you're doing that." 

The buzzer finally sounds, ending the game. We win—again. My teammates swarm me, patting my back, shouting my name. 

"You were a beast out there, Izzi!" Mack grins, clapping me on the shoulder. 

Sierra's right beside him. "MVP, as always. You could've taken a nap, and we'd still win with how you played tonight." 

I brush them off with a nod, not really in the mood for the attention. "Good game," I mutter, heading toward the bench to grab my bag.

As I walk off the court, the adrenaline starts to fade. I glance up at the stands, finding my parents sitting in their usual spot, cheering and waving. But the place where Kesley used to sit? Empty, like it always is. I look away quickly, trying not to think about it.

Sierra jogs up beside me as I head toward the locker room. "Hey, party at Derek's tonight. You should come. Celebrate the win." 

I shake my head. "Nah, I'm good." 

Sierra frowns. "You say that every time. One of these days, you're gonna have to show up, you know?" 

I force a smile, even though I'm not in the mood. "Maybe next time." 

She looks like she wants to push, but instead, she just sighs. "Alright. If you change your mind, let me know." 

"Yeah, I will." 

I watch her walk away, joining the others as they talk about the party. But me? I'm already heading toward the doors, wanting nothing more than to get home.

My parents meet me at the exit, still buzzing from the game. 

"Another incredible game, Izzi," my dad says, grinning ear to ear. "You were unstoppable out there." 

I shrug, pulling my jacket on. "Thanks, Dad." 

My mom steps in, her eyes filled with the same pride. "You make it look so easy, but I know how much effort you put into it. You're something special, sweetie." 

I nod, trying to muster up some enthusiasm. "Yeah, it was a good game." 

"You sure you don't want to come out and celebrate with us tonight? We could grab dinner somewhere. Your choice," Dad offers, his smile hopeful. 

I shake my head quickly. "I'm really tired. Just want to get home and rest." 

Mom's smile dims a little. She knows. She knows the weight I've been carrying, but she doesn't say anything. She just nods. "Alright, honey. We'll see you at home." 

I give them both a quick hug before heading to my car, throwing my bag in the back seat. As I sit in the driver's seat, I pause, letting my head fall against the steering wheel. The exhaustion hits me full force now, heavier than before. But at least on the court, I felt alive for a little while. 

I take a deep breath and start the engine, pulling out of the lot. Another game won, another night where basketball was enough to keep me going.