“The boy pressed his forehead to the chain-link fence, its warm-rust biting into his skin, branding his thoughts in tiny diamonds.” - visceral and moving opening line, wow!
I think he's proving the coach wrong! You still need skill to hit the ball, even in a simulation. I see him going on to great things -- maybe coding future training applications for real-life players.
Oh, Maryellen, this right here is what it's all about. Please excuse the word spill, but… I was so proud of that line—and it came so effortlessly. You know that feeling when "it" just happens? I kept striving to match it the whole time, but that kind of writerly magic can’t be forced, ya know?
And then you noticed it… and just like that, I felt it again. Thank you.
![[ 2D ] 🤍Story +🔥Thought](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-C0W!,w_80,h_80,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc8f383-2a73-4b6d-9de9-fc990c4c2523_1080x1080.png)
![[ 2D ] 🤍Story +🔥Thought](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-C0W!,w_36,h_36,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc8f383-2a73-4b6d-9de9-fc990c4c2523_1080x1080.png)
“The boy pressed his forehead to the chain-link fence, its warm-rust biting into his skin, branding his thoughts in tiny diamonds.” - visceral and moving opening line, wow!
🥰 This comment rules. Thank you!
Oh my mama heart just wants to scoop this boy up and squeeze him! Agree with another comment, that first line is gold (or diamonds?!) ✨
Loneliness dripped from this story. I wonder if this was a prevailing emotion you had for him?
Such a tender story, I love that not just the game but imagination was the powerful soul-saver. Seems effortless. Touching!
Awww, Shawna, you always "get" it. Thank you! 🤍
I think he's proving the coach wrong! You still need skill to hit the ball, even in a simulation. I see him going on to great things -- maybe coding future training applications for real-life players.
Absolutely! Look how I turned out.
Wait--
maybe that's a poor example.
I related to the outskirts. Sometimes the dream is all that truly matters
That’s it. The outskirts, the ache, the dream—none of it’s really about sports. It’s about you and me. I’m so glad you saw it.
That opening line is GOLD. Wow!
This is incredibly moving 😢
Oh, Maryellen, this right here is what it's all about. Please excuse the word spill, but… I was so proud of that line—and it came so effortlessly. You know that feeling when "it" just happens? I kept striving to match it the whole time, but that kind of writerly magic can’t be forced, ya know?
And then you noticed it… and just like that, I felt it again. Thank you.
You were in the zone! Yes. I know that feeling. ❣🙌❣
Incredibly beautiful !!!!! - crying at work isn’t a good thing for me tho
Rachel, you saying this? Made me cry at work. We’re gonna get each other fired. 🤍🔥
Haha. Dont get me fired for crying over a story I read on my phone. 😂
It's entirely my fault, boss person. I accept full responsibility and await sentencing to corporate jail. Please spare her.
😂😂