A CHAMPIONSHIP FOR GREY

A lone tear fell down her cheek as she aimlessly gazed into the rippling water of Crystal Lake. The image of holding his head gently in her arms had been etched forever into her memory. His golden hair had been streaked with blood, and, his once perfect outfit, that had become torn, tattered, and wet, clung to his maimed and dying body.

In the blackness of the midnight hour, she had glanced up at the car that had once been a beautiful classical, white, Chevy Nova was now left a crumpled unrecognizable heap of scrap metal around the telephone pole.

Another tear floated down, and, she softly wiped it away. "How did this happen?" she asked herself, "More importantly, why did it happen?"

Amanda, a high school senior, focused on her academic and soccer careers. She dreamed that one day she would be able to incorporate soccer into her chosen profession. Of course this meant that falling in love had been the farthest thing from her mind. That all changed last summer when she met Grey.

She was the star fullback on the high school girls' soccer team and they relied heavily upon her aggressiveness and ability to out run, and, outsmart the opponent. She had led a tandem defensive force into the play-offs not allowing any goals within the last four games. The final game was scheduled to be played this coming Saturday. Would they make it to the Championship?

In addition to her strict training regimen she now had a funeral to attend. Where would she find the strength and courage to get through this week? How was she going to find the inspiration when all her dreams for the future came crashing down two nights ago?

Looking out across the crystal clear waters of the lake, her thoughts flooded with memories of Grey.

They planned on going to the same college. She had a full soccer scholarship to attend The University of Connecticut. He had been applying for grant after grant based on the merits of his writing skills and awards he had received.

Grey was an amazing author and had already written his first published article for the Connecticut Times. He was well on his way to completing the first draft of his novel, and, he had awards for his poetry lined up neatly in a trophy case that he proudly displayed on his bedroom wall.

Last summer had been magical. Vivid scenes flashed through her mind from when she had first set her eyes on Grey. The tides roared onto the beach and crashed into an arrangement of rocks that had formed a peninsula making its way into the ocean. She gazed across the water as it danced and shimmered. The seagulls, with their hypnotizing song, flew overhead gliding effortlessly to their destination.

She saw him emerge from the rolling tides with his surf board in hand. As time seemed to stand still, she witnessed an Adonis slowly walking towards her. He was laughing with his friends. His gorgeous, friendly smile filled with the whitest teeth she had ever seen had hinted of his boyish charm. She would give almost anything to see that smile just one more time.

She was enchanted and enticed as the wind blew his golden hair almost dry the instant he had stepped out of the water. His bronzed skin shimmered in the afternoon sun given rise to the deepest sigh she could muster. As he walked by her, she was swept away. Their eyes locked and they stared at one another for a brief instant. She fell in love that day; they fell in love that day.

Today, she was utterly crushed feeling forsaken and empty inside the very depths of her heart and soul.

Another tear fell down her cheek as she recalled their plans for that night: a simple quiet night together that included studying, pizza, and a movie. They were not going to go to the party at the Smiths. If they had not gone, her Grey would still be alive.

Cory, the team captain, had called that evening with the details that it was to be a celebration of the team's recent defeat. This placed them into a position where there was only one more game to win. They were determined to make it to the championship game. She begged and pleaded until Amanda and Grey had finally made the decision to go. This decision would tragically change their lives forever.

A festive night, that unbeknownst to Amanda, would include a round of quarters with a lot of alcohol. In addition, Grey had taken ecstasy. She found out this unsettling news just this morning when she spoke to his best friend. This was the first, and, it was the last time he ever experimented with drugs.

Grey had gotten behind the wheel that night and Amanda slid into the passenger's seat. Neither one thought twice about it. Grey was fine! How could they have made such a foolish choice? Betrayed by innocence; she wiped another tear.

Her thoughts led her back to where she was: at the lake. As she stood up, the crystal waters beckoned her. Resisting the urge to strip down and emerge herself in cool crisp water, she turned her gaze away.

She had to do something to expend all the emotions that were zapping away her energy. Her forte was sprinting down the playing field in the game. She perfected this by short bursts of running in training. As if an unseen force was coaxing her, she psyched herself up for the sprint.

She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind, however, Grey's face would not leave. "I have to do this!" She thought,� “I'll have to use my promise as my motivation!"

She started to jog. Gaining speed and momentum she aimed for the entrance to the lake's beach. She was running at top speed, her heart pounded and her breathing was labored. She noticed that the gate was closed. Great!

"You can do this babe! Run your heart out! Go! Go! Go!" Grey's voice coached. She was unable to stop and then she surprised herself when she sprinted faster. "Go! Babe! Go!� said Grey's voice.

She neared the gate, and with one swift motion, she hurdled over the top angelically.

She did it! Grey coached her and she did it!

Her head was throbbing and clothes were drenched as the sweat poured off her. That wasn't stopping her from running at top speed to her home. "Go! Go!" encouraged Grey's voice!

She slowed down as she neared the garage of her house. "Slower, Babe, slower." His voice guided.

She slowed to a walk. Panting, she was walking in circles as she held her cramping side. She came to a stop, placed her hands on her knees, and leaned over catching her breath.

Her eyes were drawn to the sky and she saw a beam of light cascading down to the earth from the sun's rays. "Thank you, Babe!" She said to Grey in almost a whisper, "Thank you!"

At midweek, Grey's funeral placed Amanda in emotional turmoil.

She brought a picture of her and her defensive teammates that Grey had taken. Grey was so proud of her that day. They led their team to the playoffs.

As she was kneeling before his casket she prayed and spoke to Grey. She marked the picture with a kiss, stood up, and placed the picture at his side. "Grey," she whispered through her tears, "this one's for you Babe!"

She turned and walked to a wall where chairs were lined up at the funeral home. She sat down. Staring and numbed: she listened to family and friends offer their heart-felt condolences.

Saturday came quickly. She and her team would be playing the game that would decide their championship status.

In the habit of arriving two hours before her teammates, she started her own warm-ups. She sprinted back and forth the length of the playing field. Her mind wandered to holding Grey's head in her arms. He had been in and out of consciousness at times mumbling incoherently.

"Grey, hold on! They'll be here soon!" She remembered saying to him.

Ironically she had been coaching him to fight for his life. Grey pleaded with her not to leave him.

"Grey, do you hear me? Hold on! Don't you go anywhere!" She pleaded shouting through the wind and the pouring rain. His eyes holding a lonely frightened look, remarkably, still held the look of love he’d always had when he looked at her.

She tried so hard to comfort him and kept wiping the rain from his face.

"Amanda, promise me!" he managed at one point, "Promise me you will never give up! You will win, no matter what you do in life. You will always strive to be better than your best!"

"Grey...I...you..." her words were lost in feelings of helplessness.

"Amanda. Babe, I love you so much. Please promise me! Please, Ama...." His words trailed off as his head fell to the left and his face lost expression. He was gone. Her Grey was gone.

"Grey! Don't go!" Amanda screamed. "Grey." she shook him sobbing.

Finally, she realized her Grey was truly gone. Choking back her tears, she whispered weakly, "I promise Grey! I promise! I love you too!"

She came back to reality. Not moving, she was staring blankly. Tears were streaming down her face and Grey's face once again in her mind. "I promise, Grey, I love you and I promise." She whispered as she started to sprint again.

The teams showed, and the drills started. Amanda practiced harder than she ever had. The teams were an even match-up. If they were to win they would need focus.

The game went as predicted with no goal scored in the first three quarters. Then late in the fourth quarter, the wing, in complete desperation, made a shot at the goal from almost half field. The whole team watched, as the play seemed to move in slow motion.

The ball flew through the air into the right hand top corner. The opposing team's goalie made a valiant effort to leap and direct the shot out of bounds. Being a second too late, she landed the ground and the ball landed in the goal.

Amanda's team celebrated. They cheered as they gave earned high-five's to the wing.

They returned to their positions as the last few minutes of the game began to tick by.

The opposing team had the ball and was passing effortlessly to one another eluding every attempt at the ball being stolen away. Their right wing broke through the center of the field in a risky attempt to score a goal and tie the game.

Amanda came face to face with her. Trying to read the play she dodged to the left thinking the wing would go there. The wing dodged right instead, breaking free of Amanda's defense. The wrong call.

Amanda turned and started to sprint to catch up to the girl and get the ball away. "Go Babe! Go!" Grey's voice coached. "It's all you! You can do it! Go! Go! Go!�

Amanda reached top speed and caught up to the girl just as she was beginning to take the shot at the goal. Amanda began to throw her body down in a slide and her foot connected with the ball at the last second hurling it out of bounds.

The referee blew the whistle and the game was over. They had won! They would be going to the Championship game! She heard a roar of cheers coming from the bleachers and her team’s celebration echoed in her ears as she received the high-fives!

Right after, Amanda looked up. She viewed a sparkle of light cascading down to the Earth from the sun.

"Thank you Grey! Thank you!" She whispered, "I love you! I did it for you! I did it for us!"

A tear fell down her cheek as she choked, "I love you!"