Diary on The Shelf!

Chapter 54

LORNA dropped onto the dewy grass, panting heavily, feeling the burn in her lungs as the cold morning air cut through her. She hadn't felt this out of shape in a long time. It had been a while since she pushed herself this hard, and the ten laps around the 440m field had left her gasping for breath. Her chest prickled with each inhale, and she could barely feel the tip of her nose from the cold.

Around her, teammates were scattered across the field, hands on their knees, catching their breath before the coach blew his whistle, signaling the start of the next set of drills. They grumbled as they got up, muttering under their breath. Lorna could hear a few of them grumbling about her absence. She knew they were right. She hadn't been the player they were used to seeing lately.

"Letiwa!" Coach's voice boomed across the field, breaking through her thoughts. He beckoned her over with a stern nod. "The rest of you start baseline runs!"

Lorna's teammates shot her a few glances, a mix of irritation and curiosity, as they reluctantly started running. She sighed and jogged over to Coach, her breath still coming in short bursts. His eyes followed her every move, the lines of his face etched with concern.

Lorna could feel the coach's gaze burning into her as she jogged over, her breath still coming in short bursts. The rest of the team was running laps around the court.

"Have you been practicing?" Coach's tone was firm. "You haven't been on the court for five days. I let it slide the first day with the cramps, but this... this isn't like you. What's really going on?"

Lorna wiped the sweat from her brow, shifting uncomfortably. She knew Coach was right—her focus had been slipping. "I've just been... off," she said, avoiding his gaze.

"Off?" Coach's voice was sharper. "That's not good enough. Nationals are around the corner. Your team needs you. Pull yourself together."

His words hit her like a punch to the gut. She knew he was right. The team was counting on her, and she was letting them down. But how could she explain the storm that had been brewing inside her? The nights spent tossing and turning, replaying every moment with Halima in her head, wondering if she was making the right choices.

Lorna's mind drifted to the last few days. She remembered sitting in the bleachers after practice, her eyes on the court but her thoughts miles away. Halima had sent her a text just before practice, a simple "thinking of you," and it had thrown her off completely. She couldn't concentrate on her drills, couldn't focus on the ball or her footwork. It was like her mind had split in two—one half on the court, the other half with Halima.

"Lorna!" Coach's voice snapped her back to reality. He was staring at her, arms crossed, his expression more serious than ever. "You're better than this. I've seen you push through worse. Whatever's going on, you need to sort it out—fast. We can't afford to lose our star player now."

She opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up," Sharon's voice was laced with a teasing edge as she jogged over, having just finished her laps with the rest of the team. She tossed her braids back, a smirk playing on her lips. "Coach, maybe she needs some one-on-one time to get back in shape. I'd be happy to help."

Lorna stiffened, her jaw clenching. Sharon had always been a troublemaker, but ever since Lorna started dating Halima, Sharon's advances on the court were becoming relentless.

Coach sensing the tension, glanced between them before addressing Sharon, "Sharon, get back to the drills. I'm talking to Lorna right now."

Sharon raised her hands in mock surrender, her grin sly. "Alright, alright. Just trying to help," she said, casting a knowing look at Lorna before jogging away.

As Sharon disappeared, Coach sighed. "I need you to get your head back in the game. I'll bench you if this continues."

"I'll get it together, Coach," Lorna said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "I promise."

Coach nodded, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "Good. Now, get back out there and join the passing drills. Focus, Letiwa. We need you."

As Lorna jogged back to the court, she felt Sharon's eyes on her again. When she passed by, Sharon couldn't resist leaning in, her voice low and conspiratorial. "You know, you weren't this distracted when we were dating. I guess I just knew what was best for you."

Lorna stopped in her tracks, turning to face Sharon fully. "Sharon, we've been over this. I'm with Halima, and I'm happy. Whatever we had is over, and you need to respect that."

Sharon's smile faltered for just a second before she shrugged, playing it off. "Sure, sure. Just thought I'd remind you of how things used to be. But if you ever change your mind..."

"I won't," Lorna cut in, her voice firm. "So drop it, Sharon. This is the last time we're having this conversation."

Sharon's eyes narrowed slightly, but she backed off, her smirk returning. "Alright, Letiwa. Your loss." She jogged away, leaving Lorna standing there, her heart pounding.

Lorna took a deep breath, pushing the encounter out of her mind. She couldn't let Sharon, or anything else, distract her. Not now. She had a promise to keep—to herself, to her coach, and most importantly, to her team.

Practice was grueling. After baseline runs, intense conditioning drills, and two challenging games, Lorna was drained. Her teammates moved with a precision she envied, each successful pass and shot a reminder of how far she'd fallen. The once high-energy practice now felt heavy with her diminishing confidence.

As the final whistle blew, the court was littered with exhausted bodies. The other players, looking beaten up from the rigorous drills and games, slowly shuffled off, their energy depleted. Coach's frustration was palpable as he threw Lorna a disappointed glance before turning away. The subtle weight of his disapproval hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of her slipping performance.

Lorna remained on the court, her breathing heavy and ragged. She watched as her teammates departed, leaving her alone with her thoughts. The familiar sound of the basketball thudding against the floor echoed in her ears, each bounce a reminder of her struggle. The thought of being benched, or worse, failing the team when they needed her most, gnawed at her.

She wiped sweat from her brow, feeling the sting of frustration settle into her aching muscles. Her heart raced with a frantic rhythm, pounding in her chest like a drum. Her once fluid and confident movements were now hesitant and erratic. The cold sweat that drenched her clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin, mingling with the heat of exertion and frustration.

Lorna gritted her teeth, trying to steady her hands and calm her breath. She took deep, shuddering breaths, hoping to quiet the storm inside her. Her mind was a whirlwind of doubts and anxieties. Her muscles ached from the relentless drills, the soreness spreading through her limbs and compounding her frustration.

She adjusted her stance and tried again, focusing intently on the hoop. She attempted to clear her mind, pushing aside the distractions that had been plaguing her. Each missed shot was a blow to her confidence. Lorna had always prided herself on her precision and skill, but now, it felt like she was losing her touch

The empty court seemed to close in on her, amplifying every sound—the swish of the net, the bounce of the ball, and the occasional distant chirping of birds. She took another shot, and as the ball sailed wide, she let out a frustrated groan, slamming the ball into the ground. Lorna knew that if she couldn't pull herself together, her dream of a successful Nationals, and the trust of her teammates and coach, were all at risk.

Lorna stood there for a moment, her shoulders slumped and her breath coming in uneven gasps. She leaned against the cool wall, closing her eyes and willing herself to find some semblance of calm amidst the chaos. She needed to find a way to regain her focus and get back to the level of play she was accustomed to—both for her own sake and for her team's success.