Confetti rained on me for the second time like a dream, but it wasn’t. I was a champion again. I had just clinched my second consecutive Super Bowl win in a game that wasn’t even close. My teammates screamed and jumped around me. We had done it again, but this one hit differently.

“Kellon!” Phileigh called out as she ran toward me barefoot with her heels and our son in hand like she was on fire. My mama was right beside her with tears in her eyes. I shook my head as security tried to slow them down, but the badge hanging around Phileigh’s neck might as well have said move bitch get out the way.

“You fucking did it!” She flung herself at me, arms wrapping around my neck. Then my mama wrapped us both up, her hands cradling my face like she did when I was five and scraped my knee.

“You did it, baby. And he saw every second of it.”

I turned and looked up into the stands, holding my son above my head like a trophy of my own.

“This one’s for you, Rone,” I whispered loud enough for the sky to hear me “For every dream we had about this moment when we were kids.”

I didn’t feel guilt anymore. I didn’t feel like I’d stolen this life out from under my brother’s ghost. I felt pride and peace and purpose. As long as I had breath, I was going to keep living for him.

I brought my baby boy back to my chest and kissed his cheek. His little hand gripped my jersey like he already knew what the moment meant. Phileigh’s hand slid into mine again, grounding me like she always did.

“I have something for you,” she said, pulling a small velvet box from her purse.

“You proposing to me now?” I teased, grinning.

“You wish.”

She rolled her eyes and handed it to me. I opened the lid. Inside wasn’t jewelry. It was a tiny pair of baby cleats—green and blue just like mine. These were too small for J.

“We’re having another baby!” she shouted.

I pulled her close, kissing her like we weren’t in front of the cameras.

“We’re going to have to move up that wedding,” I told her.

“Fine with me. I’m already Mrs. Barnes.”

“I love you, Phileigh Barnes.”

“I love you, two-time MVP!”

As I stood there with my woman in one arm, my child in the other, another on the way, and my mama still crying beside me, I couldn’t help but be grateful Phileigh came my way. Everything I never knew I needed came wrapped in faith, fate, and an unexpected pass I was lucky to have caught.

The End!

AFTERWORD