" Dax! What was that "? The coach yelled from across the field, angrily coming towards him.
"You've been sloppy lately, your moves are weak, it's like you're not even in the game," the coach said aggravatingly, running his hands over his head.
" I'm sorry coach, I just need a little time out." Dax said, walking away.
" No! You're not getting any break till we get this right." The coach replied, angrily going after him to drag him back.
"I said I need a little time out" Dax repeated loudly this time, raising his hands up to hit him.
"Dax! What's wrong with you"? Trevor caught his hands, shaking him out of his anger.
Dax looked like he was snapped back to reality, the horror clearly written on his face about what he was just about to do to his coach. He was too caught up in his anger lately, and he was letting it take control of him. Ashamed of himself, he hung his head low, apologizing.
"I'm sorry, I just need a break", he said in a low voice, running away.
Coach Milton and Trevor stood there watching him with perplexity written on their faces. Dax was never like this. He sure could be arrogant and a bit stubborn at times, but never this rebellious. Something was definitely wrong, Coach Milton thought to himself. Dax was many things, but never this disrespectful.
"What's wrong with Dax?" The Coach asked Trevor, still staring ahead.
"I wonder, myself" Trevor replied.
"Lately he has been skipping classes, and his temper has been on high", Trevor said, explaining all he knows."
"There must be more to it. We can't have him like this when the championship finale is only a few weeks to go. Find out what all this is about," Coach Milton said.
"Okay Coach,"Trevor said, retreating inside as the bell rang.
Frenton's High was one of the most prestigious schools in Texas. Known for their conquering spirit in basketball, the Red bulldogs, as they were popularly called, paraded themselves around the school and neighborhood. With their leader, Dax, they were always victorious.
Dax was the star of Frenton's high. He was so great with his skills that he always won any game they went out as a school to play. To the team, he was their lucky charm. Coach Milton had coached Dax right from fourth grade when he newly joined the basketball team. He had watched him grow into the champion he was today, and was with him every step of the way. He knew Dax like he was his own son. He'd seen every side of this young man, but this was a different story.
...
"Hey man, wait up!" Trevor said, running to meet him.
"What was all that, with you and the coach?" Trevor asked casually, hanging his hand on his shoulder as they walked through the school gate, going home.
"I just lost it, okay" Dax replied.
"You are sure your okay, you've been acting differently lately" Trevor said, still pushing him for more .
"I'm fine, can you just drop it" Dax said, slightly irritated.
"Fine, fine, I'll drop it" Trevor said, raising his hands up in mock surrender.
"Just remember, whatever it is you are going through, you don't have to carry it alone. We are all here for you. Remember that" Trevor said, nudging him slightly as they went their separate ways.
Trevor was Dax's best friend. They were so close and very similar. Most times, people would often mistake one for the other. They were both tall and had the same stature with just a little difference. Since Dax was an only child, he hung out mostly with Trevor. They had been friends since childhood. And it was breaking Trevor's heart to watch his friend become a stranger to himself.
On reaching home, Dax was surprised to see his mother there, let alone his parents discussing civilly. It'd been a long time since he had last seen them like this. For some few years now, they have been on each other's necks, constantly arguing and quarreling. Dax thought they had finally settled it out when the fights stopped, but it only got worse. Greyson, his father, started drinkinWhile Theresa, Dax's mother, got a job that would require her to be distant most of the time. But something told Dax there was more to it. She probably took the job to set some distance or avoid her husband.
The emotional rollercoaster took a great toll on Dax. It was affecting him greatly. He was finding it difficult to cope with the whole ordeal. He was trying to be strong for both of them. Never showing how greatly affected he was by all this. However, it seems faith had other plans for him.
"Mum, you're here, aren't you supposed to be at work" Dax said with a small glimmer of hope in his eyes on seeing his mother.
"Yes, I wanted to see you before I left" Theresa answered.
"Leave? Wait! Where are you going to?" Dax asked, squinting his eyes at her.
"I umm, we..." Theresa tried talking, not knowing how to say it.
"There is no other easy way to say it, Theresa. Son, we are officially divorced, and she's going to Seattle." Greyson said with no emotion at all.
Dax looked between them speechless, he couldn't seem to come up with any words. This was the day he had been dreading. One way or the other, his subconscious knew this would happen. He just was not ready to come to terms with it.
"It was the best option for us" Theresa tried saying, when he still hadn't spoken.
That seemed to make him snap, because he looked at them with pure anger in his eyes.
"For years I've been tolerating both of you, hoping that someday we'll be back to normal, and you just want to throw all that away and for what!" He shouted angrily, banging his hand on the nearest surface he could find.
"Honey, trust me, this was the only way" Theresa tried saying, taking a step to touch him.
"Don't you dare to touch me" Dax said angrily, moving away from her.
"Dax! You're language! She is still your mother", Greyson shouted, trying to scold him.
" And don't you call me, you drunkard" Dax said, losing every ounce of respect he had towards them.
"You ruined this family" he said, silently running away, needing to be anywhere but there.
Later that night, Trevor called Mrs Greyson to let them know Dax was in his place having found out what happened. She thanked him profusely and asked him to take care of him.
However, Dax wasn't taking the news very well. He kept on drinking profusely. That was the only way he knew to numb the pain or whatever it was he was feeling. But why did it still hurt? Why was it so painful? He wondered, drowning himself with more alcohol.
As time went by, he managed to push everyone around him away, even Trevor. He became unbearable. Insulting and picking up fights with his teammates. He had managed to offend all his friends and teammates. They all began to avoid him like the plague.
We're definitely toasted. Coach Milton thought to himself. The championship match was just a few days to go, and the team was in total wreck. It was about time he talked to this young man before he completely lost it, he thought to himself. Going out of his office, he was relieved to see Dax standing in the hallway.
"Dax, in my office now!" The coach said with an authoritative voice.
It must be hard watching the people you've loved and grow up with go their separate ways. Coach Milton started off. However, he told him how wrong he doing all this. He made him understand how each of his teammates were also carrying a heavy burden of some kind.
"Take Trevor, for instance. His sister is dying. She has cancer. You can imagine how tough it is for him."
You've been so caught up in your problems you failed to see how it was affecting other people. Each of your teammates have tried to be very supportive to you. But you've pushed them all away. The truth remains that the team needs their leader back. They are a mess without you.
"Sometimes, letting go is the best you can do for somebody." Coach Milton said.
He could see his words made sense as the realization dawned on Dax that he was indeed very wrong. Others were going through worse situations than he was, and he had been so bad to them, especially Trevor. His problems were no excuse for his behavior. He saw that now.
Suddenly standing up, Dax went to the door.
"Where are you going to" the coach asked.
"I think I have some apologizing to do" Dax said, smiling slightly at him.