Departed
If you even die, I will wait for you to come and talk all of your wastes.
__
'No, Latham. I did right. I know he needs spaces from me now. I want him to lift it up for me. And he actually needs it. Only support doesn't make you a perfect wife. But spaces do, too. And I did what I did. I just did it right.'
NZ vs Afg: Afg won by 84 runs
NZ vs WI: WI won by 13 runs
Two lines are enough to describe full experience of New Zealand on T20 World Cup 2024. That's not how one's dream vanished. That's how a team eliminated from the group stage. One last hope was after Afg, if they were defeated by PNG. It was totally on an impossible list. All the players were just looking at the net run rate and praying for something to be changed. But it was like- 'Sympathy, where have you been?' The wall created between them and the unseen words. Kane Williamson, the captain of New Zealand cricket this year, was thinking about one permanent fullstop.
'Hazy, I'm going to New Zealand will half of my packages. I'd have to arrange all of my stuff. I'd be late to be back on Windies. I'm so glad for you that you tried hard on the last match and secured the super 8. You guys deserve it. And one more thing is I'm bringing more cookies with me next time. And all the best for super 8's matches. I can't wait to see you lifting the trophy again, like 2023. Take care.'
AUS vs Oman: AUS won by 39 runs
AUS vs England: AUS won by 36 runs
AUS vs Namibia: AUS won by 9 wickets
It's not the summary of Aus gaining their spot on super eight. It's the determination of how a team should battle. Australia's journey started in 2023 on declaring and defending. Since they beaten India in India, they became more dominating over any team with any squad. They somehow reflected some ways of 2015 in 2023. And they are going like there is no rest. Flying like there is no bound. Securing like there is no opponent. That's the wall of Australia, which shows all of their dedication at once.
A wall builds between two different stages. To separate things. Maybe for showing differences. It might remain like a barrier between two parts of the heart. One is for inhaling and the other one is for exhaling. If Aus exhales after one win, NZ inhales before one match. They just remain like a coin. You can just watch one side at once.
Saw the text.
Clenched his jaw over someone who never made decisions by his own. How could he do that? Thinking the exact question, for what he once betrayed the lack of observations, he did over Williamson for making a permanent spot. But his own gut was tight for gaining the spot professionally. Though, it sometimes becomes taugh to manage things over time in hand. But they never felt a barrier creating it own way between them. Didn't react cause he knows, it isn't calling him back from New Zealand. Sometimes, he feels dust over his eye what made harder way to even look at. Maybe before washing his eyes, Williamson rushed off. Maybe before calling him out, Williamson departed.
Somehow, Hazelwood feels the barrier. The offence he took easily hasn't made the reason to stay. He can't call him back. He knows Williamson so deeply. But feels emotional while thinking, maybe he didn't read the text properly, cause he holds tears on his eyes. It was making a vouge sight for Hazelwood, the same Williamson left for him. A vagueness.
He easily made the way for departure. He doesn't know whether to feel it or to cry it out. He knows all the lines that didn't come out. 'Hazy, it was my last World Cup. I never could give a trophy to NZ. It was my responsibility, right? I didn't win that time. I never won either. I always become a loser. And how can you not ignore it? Ignore it, Hazy. Maybe I will always be happy to watch you win. Please, for me, win all the matches. And don't worry about me. I'm alright. And I can't be here with you for making you busy with me. I want you to be serious.' And he told the last thing only. Hazy took a deep breath to realise that Williamson was taking it all the single time. He holds it deep on his mind. Felt the pain. Felt the emptiness.
Week earlier,
He still can not find a way to call him back. He is thinking of telling a lie about his sickness. He thought it would be a great excuse. He took his phone and wrote a text- 'He it's Starc. Williamson, Hazy has a fever of 102°. I don't know what to do. What is wrong with you? Why are you not here? Come quickly.' He sent it, hoping he will be back.
"Hazy?!"
Heard the favourite tone. Looks back. He forgets to lay down on bed with the AC on 30°C. Of course, he has a dramatic excuse. Williamson paused after seeing him. Hasn't understood. Closed the distance, comes closer to Hazy. Touched his jaw not to feel the temperature, to feel him. Hazy closed his eyes to let him know how much he missed him. All the differences flies, all the hidden things come to show its faces, each single pain reducing its own expansion and the vouge sight turning into sharpness. That's the rumour for which Hazy felt depressed.
"Why did you go?" Hazy asked first. Williamson didn't answer. "Yeah, I know by myself. NZ lost, you're sad that you didn't give your best and you don't want to show that pain before me. That's why you went to NZ to reduce it. It's not a joke, Williamson. You support me all the way on my ups and down. So, it's also my responsibility to-" "Alright, Hazy. You're sick." Williamson cuts him off. He moves back and finds his bag. He unzipped it and took biscuits out. Gave it to Hazelwood. "Take it. For you." Hazelwood took it, while noticing Williamson hasn't even looked up at him. He puts it on his bed beside him. He holds Williamson between his arms. "If you even die, I will wait for you to come and talk all of your wastes. Talk all of your nonsense to me. I will love wasting my time with you, Williamson. I missed you." Williamson closed his eyes. Maybe he wanted to hold him back. But it maybe impossible. Hazy continues, "Did you lie about your new closet? And all-" "Did you lie about you sickness, Hazy?" Williamson unlocked him and yelled quitely. Hazy knows he felt what he was hinding. "Yes." "Why?" Williamson strangely says, "I actually had work, Hazy. I told you I'm coming after finishing all those. Why you don't understand. It is so important for you to be serious now. And I know you're gonna joke about responsibilities on personal. Did you forget about the professional ones? It's not how it works all the time. You have to be serious." Williamson finished his lines and looked up at Hazy this time, who was nothing but looking in the same direction down at Williamson. Again, feels those tears. Watching Williamson erased from his sights, took his bag on his shoulder, he clearly notices the return ticket on his hand, opens the door and gets outside. Closed the door over Hazy's face. Hazy blinked and noticed no one.
Williamson departed again...
.....