The first City League game was set for Saturday evening. Marcus had trained hard all week splitting his time between Walt's amateur team and Hammond's new squad. His body ached but it was a good ache. The kind that meant he was building something again.
On Friday afternoon Hammond called.
"Schedule's out. First match is against the Northside Hawks."
Marcus froze. "Northside?"
"Yeah. Problem?"
His mouth went dry. Northside was the team he had lost to years ago in the final. The same team that had crushed him and sent him spiraling into the bottle.
"No problem" he said. It was a lie.
That night sleep would not come. His mind replayed the final again and again. The last shot. A three pointer that could have won it. The ball hitting the rim bouncing high then falling out. The Hawks grabbing the rebound racing down the court and scoring.
Game over.
After that night he had walked out of the arena with his head down and did not touch a basketball for months.
On game day the gym was packed. Sneakers squeaked across the floor. The smell of fresh popcorn filled the air. The crowd buzzed with anticipation.
When Marcus stepped onto the court he saw them. The Hawks in black and gold. Sharp confident unchanged.
Then he saw him.
Jermaine Carter.
The Hawks' captain. The man who had guarded him in the final. The one who had celebrated loudest when it ended.
Jermaine caught sight of him and smirked. "Well well. Look who crawled out of retirement."
Marcus kept his face calm. "Hope you're ready to work tonight."
The game tipped off and it was fast from the start. Physical. Jermaine stayed glued to Marcus shoving him with his shoulder bumping him off balance whenever he could.
"You still choke under pressure?" Jermaine whispered after a play.
Marcus said nothing. He focused on moving. Passing. Finding space. His first shots missed and the Hawks' bench laughed.
By halftime the Hawks were up eight. Marcus sat on the bench sweat running down his face his chest rising and falling. Hammond crouched beside him.
"They're in your head" he said quietly. "Shake it off. You've been here before."
Marcus nodded though inside he was fighting a storm.
Early in the third quarter everything shifted. A Hawks player fouled Marcus hard on a drive and sent him crashing to the floor. He lay there staring up at the bright lights hearing the crowd gasp.
When he stood something inside him settled.
Enough of running. Enough of being owned by one moment.
On the next possession he hit a jumper from the corner. Then a driving layup. Then a three pointer right over Jermaine's outstretched hand.
The crowd came alive.
By the middle of the fourth quarter the game was tied. The ball swung to Marcus at the top of the key. Jermaine stepped up eyes locked on him.
"Let's see if you've changed" Jermaine said.
Marcus did not answer.
He faked left stepped back and shot.
The ball cut through the air and dropped clean through the net.
The gym erupted.
The Hawks called a timeout. Marcus jogged back as teammates slapped his back. Hammond was smiling.
They held the lead until the final buzzer. Marcus shook hands with the Hawks including Jermaine.
"You got us this time" Jermaine said.
"It's not about this time" Marcus replied. "It's about not running anymore."
That night as Marcus walked out of the gym the weight in his chest felt lighter.
The ghosts were still there.
They just no longer scared him.