~ALAN~ I leaned my forehead against the cool shower wall, letting the water hit my neck until the heat turned my skin a raw, angry red. Practice was a mess. Coach was riding us for the upcoming playoffs, and my quads felt like they had been injected with lead. The air in the Briarwood locker room was heavy, wet soup—old sweat, the strong smell of sports tape, and the fancy cologne the guys used to cover up the rink smell. Outside my stall, the other Knights were a mix of loud voices, slamming locker doors, and high-fives. Loud rap music with heavy bass played from a speaker in the corner, shaking the floor and my feet. It was meant to be a fun time after skating, but it didn't help with the silence in my mind. “Voss! Are you planning on living in there, or are we going to the Liquid Lounge?” I didn't look up. I knew the voice. John, our goalie and my oldest friend. I could hear the steady clack-clack-clack of his skates as he finished unbuckling his pads. "I’
Last Updated : 2026-06-20 Read more