Chapter 16 - Trent Without Basketball
Six weeks without competition felt endless.
Trent attended school.
Went home.
Did strength work alone under approved supervision.
No team travel.
No games.
No captain’s jacket.
Without basketball, he had too much time to think.
His grades improved.
He hated that too.
Counselor Dr. Samuel Reed asked,
“Who are you if you don’t play?”
Trent stared.
“A person who wants to play.”
“Good.”
“No therapy trick?”
“No.”
Trent frowned.
Dr. Reed continued.
“You don’t need a hidden identity. You need more than one source of worth.”
Trent looked away.
“My dad says people remember winners.”
“What do you remember about Elias?”
Trent’s face changed.
The crutch.
The wall.
The grip on his wrist.
The silence.
“You remember a win?”
“No.”
“What?”
“That he didn’t look scared.”
Dr. Reed nodded.
“What were you?”
Trent hated the answer.
“Scared.”
Good therapy did not always feel good.
At home, Victor became quieter.
Laura insisted on family counseling.
Victor refused twice.
Then attended once.
He spent most of the session arguing about terminology.
The therapist stopped him.
“You keep explaining your intentions.”
Victor frowned.
“They matter.”
“Yes.”
“So do outcomes.”
Victor looked at Trent.
His son stared back.
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For the first time, neither could escape into basketball.
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