The routine of school and practice settled back in, but Aiden's mind continued to churn with the same doubts. He kept showing up to training, playing his best, and hanging out with Mia and Kyle like nothing had changed. But deep down, the weight of expectations—both from himself and others—was gnawing at him. It was like he was stuck in a loop, pushing himself harder but never feeling like he was doing enough.
Mia noticed the cracks beginning to show. Aiden wasn't the same lately. He was distant, sometimes not fully present even when they were together. She wanted to help, to pull him out of whatever spiral he was in, but every time she tried to bring it up, he brushed her off with a forced smile and reassurances that everything was fine.
But Mia knew better.
---
After another grueling practice, Aiden sat in the locker room, dripping sweat and staring at the floor. He could hear the guys joking around, but it all felt distant. His body ached, his mind exhausted. Coach Daniels had pushed them harder than usual today, and it seemed like every mistake Aiden made just added to the pressure he felt building inside.
Kyle walked over and sat next to him. "You good, man? You've been off lately."
Aiden didn't look up. "Yeah, just tired."
Kyle gave him a knowing look. "You sure? You don't seem like yourself."
Aiden took a deep breath, trying to shake the feeling that was clawing at him. "I'm fine, Kyle. Really."
Kyle raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Alright, if you say so. Just… don't let it get to you too much, okay? We've still got a long season ahead."
Aiden nodded, but the words barely registered. As Kyle walked away, Aiden's phone buzzed with a text from Mia.
Mia: "Hey, wanna grab some food after practice? Just us."
He stared at the message for a moment, debating whether he had the energy to even be around her right now. She always saw right through him, and he wasn't sure he was ready for that tonight. But he also didn't want to push her away.
Aiden: "Sure, I'll meet you at the diner."
---
At the diner, Mia sat across from Aiden, watching him closely. He looked tired, like he hadn't slept well in days. They made small talk at first, but she could tell his heart wasn't in it. Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer.
"Aiden, what's really going on with you?"
He looked up, startled by the directness of her question. "What do you mean?"
"You've been distant. You're not yourself. I can see that something's bothering you, and I just want to help."
Aiden sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Mia. It's everything. Basketball, school, the future… I feel like I'm supposed to have it all figured out, but I don't. And I'm scared that no matter what I do, it's not going to be enough."
Mia reached across the table and took his hand. "Aiden, no one expects you to have it all figured out right now. You're putting so much pressure on yourself, and it's wearing you down. You need to give yourself a break."
Aiden's jaw clenched, frustration bubbling up inside him. "But I can't, Mia. Everyone expects me to be this great player, to go to college on a basketball scholarship, to keep winning. What if I can't live up to that? What if I'm just… not enough?"
Mia's heart broke for him, but she could see that he was holding on to something deeper. "Aiden, you don't have to be perfect. No one does. You've already proven yourself—on the court, with the team, with me. You're enough just as you are."
Aiden shook his head, pulling his hand away. "It's not that simple, Mia. I wish it was, but it's not. Everyone's counting on me, and I don't know if I can keep being the person they want me to be."
Mia sat back, her eyes soft with understanding. "I'm not counting on you to be perfect, Aiden. I just want you to be okay. To be happy. And right now, you're not. You need to stop carrying the weight of everyone's expectations on your shoulders."
For a moment, Aiden didn't respond. He stared down at the table, his mind racing. He wanted to believe her, to let go of the pressure he was feeling, but he didn't know how. Everything felt like it was piling up, and no matter what he did, it didn't feel like enough.
"I don't know if I can," Aiden said finally, his voice quiet.
Mia reached for his hand again, holding it tightly. "You can, Aiden. But you don't have to do it alone. I'm here, Kyle's here, the team's here. We've got your back, no matter what."
Aiden looked at her, his eyes filled with uncertainty. He wanted to trust her, to believe that he could let go of the weight he'd been carrying for so long. But it wasn't that easy.
"I don't know how to stop," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Mia's heart ached for him. She squeezed his hand, offering him the comfort he so desperately needed. "One step at a time. You're not in this alone, Aiden."
---
The following week, things didn't get easier. Aiden tried to push through his doubts, but the pressure only seemed to grow. Coach Daniels had set up a meeting with a scout from a local college, and though it should have been exciting, the thought of it made Aiden feel sick to his stomach.
During practice, he struggled to stay focused. His shots missed the mark more often than not, and his passes were sloppy. His teammates noticed, and Coach Daniels wasn't pleased.
"Aiden, what's going on with you?" Coach barked after another missed layup. "You've been off for weeks."
Aiden wiped the sweat from his brow, his frustration mounting. "I don't know, Coach. I'm just—"
"That's not an excuse," Coach Daniels interrupted. "You've got talent, Aiden, but if you don't get your head in the game, it's not going to matter. You need to snap out of whatever funk you're in."
Aiden felt the familiar knot tighten in his chest, and before he could stop himself, he snapped. "I'm trying, okay? But maybe I don't want to be the perfect player you think I am. Maybe I'm not cut out for this!"
The words hung in the air, the gym suddenly quiet. His teammates stared at him, shocked, and Coach Daniels' face hardened.
"Maybe you need to figure out what you want, Aiden. Because right now, you're not playing like someone who loves the game."
Without another word, Aiden stormed off the court, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he needed to get out of there. Away from the court, away from the expectations, away from everything.
For the first time, he felt like he was truly breaking.