Chapter 23 - Trent Apologizes Properly
Months after the crutch incident, Trent asked Elias for a restorative meeting.
Elias almost refused.
Then agreed with counselor present.
Neutral room.
No cameras.
Trent brought no gift.
Good.
He said,
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
Elias nodded.
“I wanted you off the team because I thought your comeback made me smaller.”
Silence.
“I used your injury against you.”
“Yes.”
“I knew about the report.”
Elias looked up.
“How much?”
“My dad told me Coach changed it after you got hurt.”
“And you threatened Coach?”
“I said if he benched me, Dad would make the report public.”
Elias stared.
That was worse than he knew.
Trent continued.
“I thought I was protecting myself.”
“You were blackmailing him.”
Trent flinched.
“Yeah.”
No euphemism.
“I kicked your crutch because you said Coach cleared you.”
“Why did that matter?”
“Because I thought if you came back, everything I had could disappear.”
Elias leaned forward.
“You know what disappeared for me?”
Trent looked at him.
“My season.”
Silence.
“My surgery-free knee.”
Silence.
“My trust in Coach.”
Trent lowered his eyes.
“And while I was learning stairs again, you were worried about minutes.”
“Yes.”
Ugly truth.
Elias nodded.
“Thank you for saying it.”
Trent looked surprised.
“That’s it?”
“No.”
Elias stood carefully.
“I still don’t forgive you.”
Trent swallowed.
“Okay.”
“But I believe you’re telling the truth.”
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That was a beginning.
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