Michael’s POVThe field was already thinning out when I carried Henry’s sports bag in one hand and kept the other on his shoulder. I could still hear the distant chatter of the winning team, but for us, the world had gone quiet.Henry sniffled softly beside me. His face was filled with dried tears and dirt, and his jersey clung to him, soaked with sweat. Each step he took seemed heavier than the last.“Hey,” I said gently, squeezing his shoulder. “You did your best, champ.”He didn’t answer, just kicked a small rock across the gravel path.Anabelle waited near the convoy, standing beside the open door of our car.“Oh, Henry,” she murmured, crouching to his level. “You played so well out there. Don’t be sad.”He looked up at her, lips trembling. “We lost.”“You can’t win every time, sweetheart,” she said, brushing some dirt off his cheek. “That’s how you learn.”Henry didn’t seem convinced, but he leaned into her touch anyway. I wished Fernando had that same gentleness in him.I crou
Last Updated : 2025-10-09 Read more