Chapter Five: The Walls Have Ears

Kai changed protection left when the blitz came right. A defender stripped the ball and returned it for a touchdown. On the next possession, Kai mistook Eli's shame for a corner's thought and threw into double coverage. The Storm lost 34–13. In the restroom, Kai removed his helmet and still heard voices. He opened every faucet until Mara ran in and seized his shoulders. “Nobody here is speaking,” she told him. “I know.” He did not. His reflection was white-lipped, blood running from his nose onto the number 4 jersey. The worst part was not hearing everyone else. It was the one voice growing faint beneath them. It should have been his own.