The night was thick with tension as I sat in my dimly lit living room, the shadows creeping along the walls. The echoes of practice still buzzed in my ears, but the familiar sound of laughter and it all felt distant. It was one of those nights when my thoughts spiraled, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the weight pressing down on me. Isiah had come over to check on me, his presence a steady force amid my chaotic mind. "You've been acting strange, Butker. I'm worried about you," he said, pacing slightly as he glanced at me.I shrugged it off. "I'm fine, just tired. It's a long season."He stopped, his brow furrowing. "No, it's more than that. I can see it in your eyes. You're not fine. You've been different since I got back from the injury."The tension in the room was palpable, and I could feel a storm brewing within me. I wanted to scream, to tell him how suffocating it was to feel this way, but I couldn't find the words. "What do you want me to say, Isiah? That I'm falling apart? That I'm scared?""I want you to be honest with me," he replied, stepping closer. "I care about you, man. I always have. You're not just a teammate to me. I—" Before he could finish, the whispers started again, slithering into my mind. "He doesn't care about you. You're a burden. You should just end it."I clutched my head, squeezing my eyes shut as the voices grew louder. "No! I don't want to hear it!" I shouted, drowning out their cruel taunts with my own voice.Isiah reached for me, concern etched across his face. "Butker! Listen to me! You're not alone. I love you. You can talk to me about anything."At his words, I froze. Love? I wasn't ready for that. "You don't mean that," I snapped, pushing him away. "You don't even know what I'm going through.""Yes, I do!" he insisted, frustration and concern mingling in his tone. "I've seen you struggle, and I can't just sit here and watch you hurt yourself. You need to let me in!"I turned away, the weight of his words suffocating. "I can't do this right now," I muttered, shoving past him and heading for the door."Where are you going?" Isiah called after me, but I didn't answer. I couldn't stay in that house another second. I needed air. I needed to escape the swirling chaos in my mind.I found myself at Arrowhead Stadium, the night air sharp and cool against my skin. I climbed the stairs, each step heavy with dread and uncertainty. The voices followed me, their cruel laughter echoing in my head. "Just jump. You'll be free. No one will miss you."I reached the top of the stairs, standing at the edge where the lights illuminated the field below. I was teetering on the brink of something dark, something that felt like it could swallow me whole.Just then, I heard a light, cheerful voice behind me. "Butker!" It was Hadassah, her bright smile lighting up the dark night. She came skipping up the stairs, her energy infectious. "What are you doing up here?""What does it look like?" I snapped, trying to push her away, my heart racing with confusion and dread.She didn't flinch. Instead, she ran right up to me and pulled me into a hug, her arms wrapping around me tightly. "You looked like you needed a friend!" she exclaimed, oblivious to the storm brewing in my mind.In that moment, I felt a flicker of warmth seep through the darkness. But before I could process it, she pulled back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Anyway, I just wanted to say you're a great kicker, and I hope you're feeling better soon! I'll see you later!" With that, she turned and skipped off, her laughter ringing in my ears. I was left standing there, stunned, the echoes of her joy lingering like a ghost.As the weight of her hug settled into my bones, I realized she had no idea she'd just saved me from the edge. The voices began to fade, replaced by the memory of her warmth and laughter.Maybe I wasn't as alone as I thought.
