The next day, I walked into the locker room with a heavy heart. My thoughts were still tangled up in last night's events—the sound of Hadassah's laughter and the warmth of her unexpected hug lingered in my mind. I was stuck between feeling grateful for her presence and ashamed of my actions. Isiah was already there, his eyes scanning the room before locking onto mine. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low and serious, cutting through the chaos of the locker room.I nodded and followed him to a quieter corner, where the chatter faded to a dull hum. He held something in his hands, and when I got closer, I recognized it—a small box cutter. My stomach dropped as I realized I had left it lying around."What's this?" Isiah demanded, his face a mix of anger and concern."It's nothing," I said, trying to brush it off. "Show me!" he insisted, thrusting the box cutter at me. "Why do you have this? Why would you even think about hurting yourself?"My heart raced, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks. "I didn't mean to—""Then why?" he pressed, his voice rising in frustration. "You have to be honest with me. I don't want to lose you to this."I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words. "I felt like I didn't matter. Like nobody cared. I thought maybe it would help. But it didn't," I admitted, my voice cracking.Isiah's expression shifted from anger to confusion, and I could see tears welling in his eyes. "I don't understand why you would do that to yourself," he said, his voice trembling. "You mean so much to me. You're my best friend. You're part of this team!"As his frustration melted away, I felt the pain behind his words. "I'm sorry," I murmured, my heart aching. He took a deep breath, and tears began to spill down his cheeks. "You don't have to carry this pain alone. You can give it to me. I want to help you."Before I could respond, he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me in a fierce hug. I melted against him, feeling the warmth and strength of his embrace. It felt good to let my guard down, even if just for a moment. "I'll try," I whispered against his shoulder. "I'll try to let you in."When we pulled apart, Isiah's eyes were filled with tears, but he wore a small, hopeful smile. I felt a flicker of relief, but the guilt lingered. I knew I had to try harder to heal, for Isiah and for myself. Later that week, after a grueling practice, I found Hadassah sitting on the sidelines, laughing with some of the other players. I hesitated, but Isiah nudged me. "Go talk to her," he encouraged.Taking a deep breath, I walked up to her. "Hey, Hadassah," I said, trying to sound casual, but my voice wavered.She looked up, her face lighting up with a bright smile. "Butker! What's up? Did you miss me?"I chuckled, my heart lifting a little. "Actually, I wanted to apologize for being such a jerk the other day. I didn't mean to snap at you.""Oh, it's okay!" she replied, waving her hand dismissively. "I get it. Everyone has rough days.""I definitely did," I admitted, my heart heavy with the truth. "But I realized I could use a friend. And you seem really good at that."Hadassah beamed, her joy infectious. "Of course! Friends are what I'm all about!"I felt warmth fill my chest. "Thanks for being there the other night. You really helped me, even if you didn't know it.""Anytime, Butker!" she said, her eyes sparkling. "Just remember, if you ever need someone to cheer you up or talk about stuff, I'm here!"As we chatted, I noticed Isiah watching us from a distance, a proud smile on his face. In that moment, I felt something shift inside me. Maybe I wasn't as alone as I thought.I understood that pain doesn't have to define me. I had friends who cared, and maybe opening up to Hadassah was what I needed to start healing. As I stood there, laughing with her, I realized that the darkness didn't have to win. There was light ahead, and I was ready to embrace it. In that moment, I made a promise to myself: to let others in, to face my struggles head-on, and to be a better friend to those who loved me.
