Coach Hawkins didn't hold back. His voice cracked like a whip in the air as he paced in front of Caden, his frustration and anger boiling over.
"Are you kidding me, Caden?!" Coach's words cut through the air like a storm. "That throw was a joke! How do you miss something that simple? How do you mess up basic stuff? You're supposed to be one of our leaders out here, and you're playing like you're just going through the motions!" He jabbed a finger at Caden’s chest, his breath coming in heavy bursts.
Caden stood there, trying to keep his composure, his eyes fixed on the ground. He knew what was coming. He didn’t need the lecture; he was already beating himself up enough. But the coach wasn’t done.
"Every time you mess up like this, you’re setting the team back! You think you can coast by just because you’ve got potential? Well, guess what? Potential doesn’t win games! It’s hard work! It's heart! You think I don't see that? You think I'm just here to watch you cruise along? NO!" The coach’s voice boomed, every word heavy with frustration.
Caden’s jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. His heart raced, his mind spinning. He could feel the weight of the coach’s disappointment—and worse, the weight of his own failure.
“You’re better than this,” Hawkins continued, his voice lowering but still carrying the weight of his anger. “I know you’re better than this. But if you can’t get out of your head, if you keep pulling this crap—you’re done.”
Caden’s chest tightened at the thought, but he stood his ground, not moving, not saying anything.
The coach let out a long, controlled breath, his shoulders sagging just a little as he paused, looking Caden dead in the eyes.
“But here’s the thing, son,” he said, his voice softer now, though still with a sharp edge. “You are on the right track. I see it. But you’ve got to keep pushing yourself. Don’t settle for this half-assed version of you. Don’t get comfortable. You fight against that. You fight against every obstacle, every doubt that pops into your head. You think these yells are because I’m disappointed in you? No. These yells are an enemy. Fight against them.”
Caden swallowed hard, nodding slowly. His chest was tight, but there was something in the coach's words that made sense. It wasn't about giving up—it was about facing the struggle head-on. Fighting through it.
Coach Hawkins turned away then, his voice cutting through the air one last time. “Eventually, you’ll be able to testify. You’ll be able to look back and see where it all paid off.”
With that, Coach walked off, leaving Caden standing there, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. Caden took a deep breath, the storm inside him settling, if only a little. He had a lot of work ahead of him, but he wasn’t going to back down. He was ready to fight.
Caden trailed behind,walking out and stopping before watching as Hawkins walked off,face confused as he turned and saw Rose. "Oh,uh,hey." He says,rubbing the back of his neck.
Snow and Sleet Mix, Clearing at Night
