Alabama’s five-star wide receiver, Ryan Williams, stood by his locker, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. Just hours before the game against Tennessee, the news had come in like a tidal wave, drowning out all thoughts of football. His younger sister, Lily, had been in a car accident. The details were scarce, but what he did know was enough—she was in critical condition.
Coach Saban had approached him, concerned but understanding. “Family comes first, Ryan,” he’d said with a firm hand on his shoulder.
Ryan nodded, his mind swirling. Just yesterday, everything had been about game plans, routes, and the rival showdown with Tennessee. Now, none of it mattered. His family needed him. He couldn’t be on the field tomorrow, not when his heart was elsewhere. His teammates, though disappointed, supported him, rallying around him with words of encouragement and quiet pats on the back.
The stadium lights would shine without him tomorrow, but for Ryan, there was only one place to be—by his sister’s side, praying she would pull through. Football could wait.