The sun is starting to go down. All I hear are my cleats running on the turf and my heavy breathing from running. This is the reason I love soccer, the ball is like an extra part of my body. I start slowing down when I get near the goal, the sound of the ball going into the goal echoes across the empty stadium.
"Do another one Mason!" My father's voice interrupts my thoughts. Once Lisa was diagnosed he started coming with me when I practiced. Dad was a soccer player growing up too, but when he was in college he got into an accident that gave him a permanent limp. Now he lives his dream through me.
I keep doing the same and different drills, It's the same routine every night, tire myself until I have to go home.
"Mason, hurry your ass up! One more and then It's time to go!" I wipe the sweat from my head and go one last time.
The ride home is the usual, dad's telling me what I could have done better, and I'm listening. We arrive home and dad parks in the front. Our house is at the end of the street, facing the rest of the neighborhood. It's a two-story with a basket of soccer balls and volleyballs next to the door. Lisa loved volleyball, just like me, she'd play until she was forced to stop. I step out, haul my bag over my shoulder, and head inside. I'm greeted by the sound of Mom on the phone in the kitchen. Dad goes into the kitchen and kisses mom on the cheek, which she responds by slapping his arm, "Don't kiss me on the cheek when you're all sweaty!"
I sigh, kick off my shoes, and head upstairs, placing my soccer bag under my desk—just like always.
"Mason! Dinner is ready!"
"Coming Mā!" I leave my room and look to the side, seeing my sister's door cracked open. Mom must have grabbed some more clothes for Lisa's while she's staying at the hospital.
The room is a lavender color, she had begged for it to be that color before she got sick. I walk towards her room and I'm greeted at the door with a faded "Keep Out" sign that she made with sharpie and shells from the beach. I always do this, get close to the door but never open it. I haven't been inside her room since the last time she was here, which was weeks ago. Normally I stay away from her room when she's gone but today-
"Mason! Zhèngcān!" Jeez, he must be hungrier than usual.
I walk downstairs and we start eating dinner, throughout dinner it's mainly just mom and dad talking. I just sit there, eat, clean my mess, and then go upstairs and do my homework. Mom talks about how her day was, sometimes bringing up Lisa, what her friends said on the phone, how work was, and dad responds. They've had their arguments in the past, but they always work through it.
Then she starts asking me questions, "How was your day?" "How was soccer?" and so on. Sometimes it feels like an investigation, but I love her so I respond to every question she ask me.
When dinners over I head upstairs and walk to Lisa's room again, the doors still cracked open. I head inside and sit on the edge of her bed, the mattress dipping slightly. I start looking around her room. Lisa's volleyball trophies are lined up on the top shelf, each one marking a different accomplishment. I look at her nightstand and she has a photo of us sitting there, collecting dust. In the photo we're grinning ear to ear, while having ice cream in our hands. She has another one next to it, hung on her small mirror. It's when she won her first volleyball game as a starter, she has a pink and white volleyball in her hand, trying to cover her face. She's always energetic and teasing at home, but whenever we were outside of the house she's shy as hell.
My phone starts buzzing, interrupting my thoughts. I glance at the screen to see Luca's name lighting up on my screen. "Hey, what's up? I stand up and start walking back to my room, closing Lisa's door.
"Hey," he pauses for a second. "You know Xamiras friend right? Samatha?"
I hesitate. "Yeah, why?"
"Do you have her number?"
"Nah, I only know her cuz we share a mutual friend. Why?" Oh god, what did he do? "Luca, what did you do?"
"My dad was being himself so I left the house and went to the park to calm myself down. I don't know why but I told her what happened and she told me I should tell someone. I got scared and snapped at her and walked off."
I sigh and pinch my nose. "She was just trying to help."
"I know, I want to apologize but I don't have her number"
"I guess try apologizing at school on Monday."
"I'll try. Anyways my dad's calling so I have to go, bye Mason."
God, I hate his dad "Okay, bye Luca." I hang up and go back to my homework, heading to bed shortly after.