Missing The Sun

Chapter XXI: Basketball

Sun's smile grew wider as she stepped into the familiar outdoor basketball court of her high school that evening. After enduring weeks of grueling study sessions for her demanding double-degree program and a long, exhausting day filled with challenging tests and exams, she finally felt a sense of freedom wash over her. The weight of academic pressure was momentarily lifted, and all that remained was the anticipation of the results that would soon arrive.

As she made her way across the polished vinyl floor, she headed straight for the basket, where a mountain of basketballs was stacked high. A grin spread across her face as she surveyed the scene. With a sense of determination, she began to push the basket to the center of the court, positioning it just right for her practice. She took a deep breath and launched her first shot, but it missed the mark entirely, bouncing off the rim and hitting the floor with a dull thud. Frustration bubbled up inside her, but she refused to let it deter her. She picked up another ball and shot again—this time, she missed too. Undaunted, she continued to shoot, again and again, losing herself in the rhythm of the game as time slipped away unnoticed. An hour passed in a blur, each shot becoming a release, a way to escape the pressures that had weighed her down.

As the sweat dripped steadily down her face, soaking her hair and clothes, she paused to wipe her forehead with the back of her hand. Breathing heavily, she reached for her water tumbler and took a refreshing sip, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Although she had no specific goal in mind for this practice session, she could feel the sadness and tensions she had carried for so long starting to dissipate. It was as if the act of shooting hoops was helping her to let go of all the worries that had plagued her. In this moment, she needed to focus on herself, to reconnect with who she was beyond the pressures of expectations. This time on the court was her own, a much-needed escape where she could simply be.

"Ah... I'm getting old. I'm so bad at this now."

After taking a break for a little while, Sun still found herself unwilling to come to a stop. Driven by her passion for the game and the joy of reconnecting with a glimpse of past memories, she picked up the basketball once more and began taking a few shots, enjoying the rhythm as she executed a couple of layups. However, it didn't take long before she became completely immersed in her own solo game, losing track of time and surroundings. The atmosphere around her seemed to energize her, and she gradually pushed herself to continue playing. Yet, she was aware that her mind was weary from everything that had happened recently. Unfortunately, during one particular play, a miscalculated movement led to her foot landing in an awkward position, causing an intense surge of pain to shoot through her body. Her previously injured ankle flared up anew.

Sun let out a scream that echoed across the empty court, abruptly sitting down on the floor as the pain intensified. She winced, trying to suppress the discomfort that radiated from her ankle. Taking a moment to gather herself, she slowly shifted her sitting position to find some relief, gently massaging her feet in a desperate attempt to ease the throbbing pain. When she finally attempted to stand up, she quickly realized that she was in no position to do so without assistance. The reality hit her hard; no matter how much she wanted to get back on her feet, even the slightest shift in her weight sent pulses of agony through her foot.

Desperate for a solution, she fumbled for her cell phone in her bag, hoping to reach out for help. But when she finally retrieved it, a wave of regret washed over her as she realized her cell phone was completely dead. The battery had been drained, and she had neglected to charge it earlier. Glancing at the clock, she noted the time—it was nearly nine at night. Feeling a sense of helplessness, she pondered if simply screaming until the school security man arrived would be a solution for her.