**”I’m Leaving”**
The Florida sun blazed overhead, casting long shadows across the field where the Seminoles practiced for their upcoming game against the SMU Mustangs. The air was thick with anticipation, but for Brock Glenn, the excitement felt like a weight pressing down on his chest. He stood at the edge of the practice field, watching his teammates run through drills, their laughter and shouts echoing around him.
But he didn’t feel like laughing. The exhilaration that usually bubbled within him had vanished, replaced by a nagging sense of uncertainty. Brock had been a star quarterback, revered by fans and teammates alike, but something had shifted in him. As he caught sight of his best friend and wide receiver, Jake, making an impossible catch, a surge of clarity washed over him.
“I can’t do this anymore,” he murmured to himself. The words felt foreign yet liberating. He had spent countless hours training, building a reputation, but deep down, he knew he was chasing a dream that no longer felt like his own.
After practice, the team gathered in the locker room, a buzz of camaraderie filling the air. Brock sat silently, his gear still on, as laughter bounced off the walls. Coach Miller entered, his voice booming with enthusiasm, recapping the day’s drills and the game strategy for SMU. The players hung on his every word, but Brock felt detached, a spectator in a world he once thrived in.
Finally, as the room began to clear, he stood up, his heart racing. “Coach,” he said, his voice steadier than he felt, “can I talk to you for a minute?”
The coach turned, eyebrows raised, sensing the seriousness in Brock’s tone. “Of course, Brock. What’s on your mind?”
Brock took a deep breath, the moment heavy with consequence. “I’m leaving,” he said simply. “I don’t think I can play anymore. I need to find what’s next for me.”
Coach Miller’s expression shifted from surprise to concern. “Is this about the pressure? We all feel it. It’s a big game, but you’re not alone. We can work through this.”
“It’s not just the pressure,” Brock replied, shaking his head. “I’ve lost the love for the game. It feels more like a burden than a passion now. I need to step away before I lose myself completely.”
The coach studied him, realizing that this was no impulsive decision. “Brock, you’re one of the best. The team needs you.”
“Maybe,” Brock replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I need me more.”
After a long pause, Coach Miller nodded slowly, his features softening. “You have to do what’s right for you. Just know that if you ever want to come back, you’ll always have a place here.”
Brock felt a wave of relief wash over him. As he walked out of the locker room, the weight lifted off his shoulders, and he took a deep breath of the warm Florida air. The game against SMU would go on without him, but for the first time in a long while, he felt free.
He glanced back at the field, watching his teammates prepare for the battle ahead. Maybe this was the end of one chapter, but it was also the beginning of something new. Brock didn’t know what lay ahead, but for the first time in a long time, he felt excited to find out.