Jimmy yelled his support for David, and Nate was recording the match a few rows away. As the wrestlers met in the middle, the crowd got into it, yelling and screaming support. When David’s opponent scored a takedown, Susan’s heart sank.

“Don’t worry,” Jimmy said. “We talked about this. Just watch.”

With his opponent trying the push him into the mat, David spun and rolled backward, pinning his opponent beneath him in one fluid move.

“That’s it!” Jimmy yelled. “Pin him! Pin him!”

A few seconds of struggle and the referee slammed the mat. David rose and shook his opponent’s hand and the referee raised his hand in victory.

“He did it!” Susan said.

“He’s going to the finals!” Jimmy said.

When the event was over, Susan and Jimmy made their way onto the mat, where David’s coach was high-fiving his wrestler.

“Get some rest,” the coach said. “We’ll see you Monday.”

Susan hugged her sweaty son and didn’t care. “Amazing!”

“You told me he was going to take you,” Jimmy said.

“I’ve never beat him before,” David said, still stunned.

“That was awesome!” Jimmy said.

Nate stood in front of David and put his phone out for a closeup. “So this is the best moment of your life so far.”

“What do you say we go out to dinner?” Jimmy said. “You pick the place and we’ll celebrate.”

“I love dinner, great idea,” Nate said.

“I’m so hungry,” David said. “I mean literally, I could eat an entire cow.”

“Wherever you want, honey,” Susan said, putting a hand on his shoulder. It was such a moment of victory. She couldn’t imagine anything clouding their joy that night.

Until David suddenly collapsed on the mat, falling with a sickening thud.

CHAPTER 21

Susan saw David fall and then the whole world seemed to blur. She crouched next to him on the mat, watching him open and close his eyes as if he had no control over them. She heard someone say the word overheated and then Jimmy yelled for someone to call 911 while he leaned over David. David’s coach appeared and told everyone to move back and not to touch David until the paramedics arrived.

Susan didn’t obey. She had to stay as close to her son as she could. What was wrong? He was so full of energy and life during the match—how could he have collapsed?

“Please, God,” she prayed. “Please.” It was all she could think to pray.

The next thing she knew, there were men in uniform next to David. Someone helped her up and she looked into Jimmy’s eyes. He hugged her and she whispered, “What happened? What’s wrong with him?”

“It’s okay. They’re going to help him,” Jimmy said.