We both stepped out the door and headed toward the elevator. It was just one date. In a few days, I would let Carson down easily and focus on my future as a single mother. Embrace the evening. I followed behind Carson. Even if this date was just a distraction from my sad reality, I would do my best to enjoy it.

Chapter 2

“Everything you’ve worked for comes down to this moment, kid. You’ve got this, Kellon!” My head coach, Coach Mason Tomlin, shouted, giving me a reassuring pat on my back as I stepped onto the field.

My eyes glanced at the clock as I lowered my helmet over my face.

“Thirty seconds,” I muttered to myself.

Only thirty seconds left in my first Super Bowl appearance, and it all came down to me. We were down by four, and the task was simple. Throw the game-winning touchdown.

“I got it.”

I peeked up in the stands, searching for my mom. I needed a reminder of why I had to win this. I found her, and my eyes immediately locked on the angel image of my big brother Jeronee plastered on her shirt. His eyes seemed to be staring into mine. This was his moment, and I couldn’t mess this up. I couldn’t let his death be in vain. I zoomed out, looking at my mom. Her hands fastened together, praying. It seemed to be the consensus throughout the stadium for the fans sporting neon green and white. The fans in the opposite colors screamed and roared, trying to knock me off my game. They couldn’t shake me, though. I was in the zone, and nothing was getting in between me and victory. I had to do this. If not for me, for Jeronee.

“Let’s get this ’ship!” one of my teammates called as we lined up in formation.

I nodded, scanning the opposing team, paying attention to their coverage. I knew they were about to come straight at me.

“White eighty….” I called, letting my lineman know I would make a quick throw. The ball snapped, and I only had a second to glance at my wide receivers. Just as I had predicted, the defenders were closing in on me. Locking eyes with my right hand man, Braelon Davis, I launched the ball into the air. This was it. A lifetime of playing football, four years in the NFL, and it all came down to this.

“Come on, Braelon! Catch it!” I whispered under my breath as I desperately watched the ball spiral through the air. Everything around me seemed to move in slow motion. The stadium had muted in my head as I watched our star wide receiver leap into the air and snatch the ball down into the end zone.

“Touchdown!”