“And that’s the game, ladies and gentlemen! With a miracle shot from Marcus Hayworth, he breaks the tie. What an upset…”

The voice of the announcer still rang clear as day in Rico’s ears, still feeling the disbelief at how it had all happened so fast. It may have happened quickly, but his mind replayed it in slow motion over and over again. They had lost, he…had lost… everything. What was supposed to be his moment in the sun had become his darkest hour in mere minutes. So there he sat, long after the game was over. The locker room where he wallowed had been hastily abandoned by his teammates after the loss. They were all eager to wipe it from their memories. Even the janitors had come and gone. So now only he remained.

Rico couldn’t bring himself to leave. It felt like as soon as he left the small room that smelled of bleach and the lingering scent of body order, it would all come crashing down on him. His legs had stopped responding, refusing to support him in his fear. He was scared. Afraid of the future he would have to face once he stepped out that door. With his elbows resting on his legs and his hands gripping the other for dear life. He shook from his frayed nerves that kept him stuck sitting on the hard wooden bench.

“Damn it… Damn it all….” He cursed, gritting his teeth and clenching his eyes shut tight.

Lowering his head he stared at his dark skin, baked the color of burnt chocolate from practicing every single damn day. Days that turned to weeks, which turned to months, which became years on top of years.

“What was it all for?” He whispered through gritted teeth. His long shaggy black hair falling in front of his eyes like a curtain, trying to hide his shame while his vision became blurry with overflowing emotion. He had given almost everything to this stupid game and his chance to turn his life around had come and went, and he still lost.

The sound of a door opening came to his ears, reverberating like he was underwater. The clicking sound of hard-soled shoes echoed off the tile as they approached. As they got closer, it seemed they tried to speak to him, but their voice was distant and muffled. It didn’t matter, nothing mattered anymore.

“…ico….R..co…RICO!” A feminine voice screamed at him as her hand shook his shoulder.

Rico was shaken from his trance as he looked up at the voice that was yelling and shaking him. His wide eyes glistened like they were made of glass as he looked up at her.

“Rico, are you alright? I was waiting for you outside the stadium, but you never showed up.”

He simply stared at Tiana. Her coffee brown skin and silky black hair contrasted with the baby blue spaghetti strap sundress she wore. She was thin, like she didn’t get enough to eat half the time. She was looking at him with worry and confusion. But all he saw was pity in that gaze.

“Tiana…” Rico whispered as he looked deep into her amber eyes. “I am so sorry.”

Breaking eye contact, he stared at the floor again.

“What? It’s okay baby, I just got worried.”

Her hand stroked his back, trying to soothe whatever was bothering him. His hands gripped each other even tighter.

“I mean, I’m sorry!” He shouted as he started to shake again. Tiana frowned deeply. She knew why he was upset. Of course, she watched the game. She watched all of his games.

“Rico, my love, it’s okay.”

“But it’s not!” His voice rose as he struggled to control his emotions

Burying his face in his hands, Rico took a deep, shuddering breath.

“This was supposed to be our way out of this place…And I failed, I let you down.”

Tiana still frowned as she watched the man she loved suffer.

“You didn’t fail Rico, you were amazing. I watched you the whole time..” She said trying to soothe his soul

“But it wasn’t enough.” He weakly replied

Lowering his hands from his face, he scowled at his calloused palms.

“This was my chance to get out of doing menial labor for scraps. To get us out of the slums. To start a family.” Closing his hands into tight fists, the scarred and worn down skin of his fingers reminded him of just who he really was. A failure. One whose only skill was using his body. And he couldn’t even do that right.

“Rico, winning doesn’t matter. I told you before...” Tiana tried to interject, her hand never leaving his body.

“It does matter, Tia! We were going to buy a home with that money. That was the money to start our family.” He placed his forehead in his palm propping his elbow up on his knees.

Rico’s jaw ached from clenching his teeth for so long. He welcomed the pain. He needed it. Needed something to distract him from his inner turmoil. As he felt his heart being torn out by saying his next words.

“You are still so young and beautiful… You deserve so much more, someone that will give you a future. I’ll only make you suffer…” He felt the sting of tears escaping his eyes, rolling down his face as his sadness overflowed.

Tiana’s eyes widened at his words, shocked at how he could say such awful things. Her own fist clenched as she had enough of this. He was being stupid and she had enough of it. Reaching up, she grabbed him by the face and turned his head to look back at her. Rico’s eyes landed on her angry expression.

“How… dare you, Rico. Is that really what you think of me? I thought you knew me… I thought you loved me.” She said with obvious pain in her voice.

“I do!” he blurted out quickly in response.

“Then you should know the reason I’m still here is not so flimsy that I would leave you over a stupid game!”

Rico stared up at her, his mouth slightly agape, the tears drying quickly on his parched skin. His lips moved, but no sound came out as he tried to say something.

He knew better than anyone that she could have easily found another man that would have taken care of her far better financially than him.

A memory flashed before him. Rico was younger, exhausted after running several miles. He collapsed in the grass under the shade of a large tree, gasping for air when a voice came from above him. Opening his eyes, he saw the amber gems staring back. Standing over him in an expensive-looking dress, Tiana’s look of curiosity made his heart race. He couldn’t help but watch as she slowly pushed a lock of jet black hair behind her ear. He didn’t know it then, but that was the day he understood what it meant to be in love with someone.

They talked that day for several hours. She was from a well off family and she often visited the park he practiced at because of all the flowers that naturally bloomed there. Rico felt ashamed about being poor around her, though she never once brought it up. Once it got dark and she had to leave, he stood there till she was out of sight. He returned each and every day. hoping to see her at least one more time.

The fourth time they found each other at the park, Rico vividly remembered the sensation of a cold water bottle being pressed against his neck. Followed by the sound of Tiana’s musical laughter which quickly banished any anger he felt from the surprise. To him, she felt like this divine creature that he couldn’t look away from. And even though they were completely different in terms of social status and wealth, she too seemed to only have eyes for him as well. To this day, he still wasn’t sure just what she saw in him back then…but he was thankful every single day that she saw whatever it was.

“Rico!” Her voice snapped him out of his memory. “Do you truly feel I only love you because of money? Answer me!”

“No!” He finally responded.

“You better not, or I will smack it out of your thick skull! I didn’t fall in love with Rico the athelete. I feel in love with the sweet caring soul thats inside of you Rico. You could have quit playing years ago and I wouldn't have left. Sometimes I wish you did...” Tia said with a small frown as her thin delicate fingers stroked his cheek.

Rico stared in awe up at the woman he loved, her hair falling forward to tickle his nose as she stared down at him. “But…”

“No buts Rico, I have spent the last two years watching you nearly kill yourself with work while trying to fulfill your dream.” Tiana’s eyes were now glassing over as she spoke. “Do you know how many nights I cried myself to sleep because you took another night shift after practice?” Droplets splashed against his face as tears fell from the beautiful eyes he fell in love with all those years ago.

"But I never asked you to stop because I know how much it means to you. And I want to support you the best I can my love." She whispered. A beautiful yet sad smile on her face as tears still fell each time she would blink them away.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

More memories flashed before him. times where he would come home at three in morning after working all day followed by hours of practice. When he could he would pick up a few hours of work at another job site that would keep him most of the night. He would stumble into the tiny apartment exhausted. He didn’t want to wake Tiana, with the noise and the stink of his sweat. So he always passed out on the small, barely cushioned couch.

When he would wake up a few hours later he would constantly find a fuming Tiana standing over him. He remembered thinking in his exhausted state that he had died and gone to heaven and she was an angel. Though she might not be an actual angel. She was his angel. Even if she was like a devil yelling about overworking himself.

“We could live in a cardboard box on the south end of town for all I care. But I know you want better for us, and it hurts me knowing how much you suffer to provide what you do. I pray every single day." Sniffing, Tiana wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“But not for money Rico… I pray your dream will finally come true.” She said in a whisper. A soft smile finally returned to her face.

“Even if we live in that tiny apartment for the rest of our lives, just know that my dream… is already coming true.” Tiana let out a what could only be call a happy sob.

Rico's mouth gaped open in shock. He knew what what she had been hoping for in the last year. It was why he needed to win that game so badly. He stood up quickly, placing his hands on her upper arms.

“Tia… do you mean you are...what does that mean!?" Rico said in a panic, his heart feeling like it was stuck in his throat while it pounded loudly in his ears. She let out a soft chuckle, sniffing loudly again and wiping more tears that seemed to keep coming even though she was smiling.

“You know what it means, Rico.” Tiana said, now looking up at him with a dreamy look.

“Please, I need you to say it!” He urged her, making Tiana roll her eyes at him. Reaching up, she grabbed his wrist and slowly guided his hand to her stomach.

“I stopped at the clinic this morning…” Tiana said in a soft whisper. Rico’s eyes shot back up to hers, his mouth becoming as dry as a desert.

“Tia…you… you…” He stammered

She giggled softly before reaching up and placing a hand on his cheek.

“Yes dear, my dream to have a child with the man I love is coming true.”

Rico's head felt like it was going to explode. “You’re… pregnant!”

The words felt like they weren’t real, like nothing was real. It all felt like a dream. Tiana moved her hand behind his neck and pulled him down, pressing her lips to his. He kissed her back, their lips pressing together with as much love and passion they both could muster. He sucked in a deep breath through his nose. Her unique scent, reminded him of when the lilacs bloom at the end of spring.

They slowly parted and when their eyes met again, her smile made him want to kiss her forever more.

“Mmhmm… you are going to be a wonderful father Rico. I just know it.”

He started to shake and his legs became weak again, but this time it was excitement, and overwhelming happiness.

Thoughts began filling his head as he can see himself holding his baby for the first time. Their first smile, first steps, first words, the first time they wrap their small arms around his leg in the best hug they can give. More kids suddenly appear, two, three, four, five, all with features he recognizes from himself and Tiana. There is so much happiness, and he feels so light and fulfilled, a feeling he could only dream of before.

As they all grow, he cherishes the moments spent watching them play. When he comes home they all rush to greet him, smothering him with so much laughter and love, warming his heart on even the hardest of days. Soon they become teens, more distant and independent. Things get quiet and lonely for a while. But suddenly there are children once more and those teens are now adults, with kids of their own. Life is back to being busy as, once again, children grow before his eyes and he can’t hide the smile that never seems to leave his face.

The vision seems to last a lifetime as they flash before his eyes in mere seconds.

“Well, say something Rico?” Tiana said with a smile, laughing softly at the distant look in his eyes, her thumb stroking his cheek softly.

“Huh… Oh…”

Gathering himself, he took a deep breath. A smile that he thought might be lost forever finally came back to his face. Rico’s arms wrapped around her waist and he lifted her into the air, spinning her several times as she shrieked in surprise.

“I’m going to be a father!” His heart swelled with joy as he spun her around again and again.

“Rico stop, I’m going to be sick, haha!” Tiana complained half heartedly as she held on to him tight as he eventually stops spinning but doesn't let her go. The worries and pain he felt just moments ago, replaced with unbridled joy, and a heart ready to give all that he can to his family. There was only one way he could express just how happy and grateful he was for her.

“Tiana, I love you so much. You inspire me to be a better man, to live not for myself, but for you and our unborn children. So I have only one more question for you.” Finally parting from her just slightly, his hand slid down to rest on her stomach once more. Tiana’s eyes looked down then back at him, sparkling in the fluorescent glow of the lights above.

“What is it my love?” she asked, her voice soft and sweet.

“It may not be today, and it may not be tomorrow. But soon. I wish to make you mine, so that no one would dare say otherwise. Will you marry me?”

Her eyes went wide at the proposal. The cheeks of her light brown skin flushed with heat but she scowled softly at him.

“You idiot…” she grumbled, hating that she still got so worked up from those words. “You ask me that every single week and every week I tell you the same thing.” Moving her hands from his shoulders to fold her arms across her chest. Each time she apparently did something he loved, he would suddenly ask her to marry him. Even simple things like making him dinner would bring about a sudden proposal.

Rico chuckled softly. “I know, I know, but please, humor this idiot one more time. I promise it will be the last time I ask.”

His infectious grin and dimpled cheeks were impossible to resist. Tiana let out a heavy sigh, but her cinnamon-colored lips softly spread into a smile as she nodded. “Of course Rico, I would love nothing more than to marry you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck as they gazed into each other's eyes.

With that, the couple fell into another kiss that made every other pale in comparison. Closing his eyes, the surge of love and joy was like electricity shooting through him. His body felt like it was being shocked each time their lips parted then came back together.

As they kissed he could have sworn he heard Tiana whisper to him in a sad voice.

“Rico... please… wait for me my love.”

It was confusing because he wasn’t going anywhere. But that was when everything got quiet. He could no longer hear the sound of their lips coming together anymore. It was like he was suddenly deaf, the sweet sound of her voice was gone. He could no longer smell either, the scent of lilacs was gone. He could no longer taste, the sweetness of her lips was gone.

Still, he refused to break their kiss. He would continue to kiss her for as long as he could. That was, until his ability to feel slowly faded as well, the softness of her lips... was gone.

His hearing returned at the sound of a shrill whistle. Like someone was blowing it right into his ear. He wished it would stop. It was making him tired for some reason. So very tired. The inside of his eyelids became deep wells of blackness. Then he was suddenly falling down into that darkness. So tired. He wanted to sleep, so he reached for Tiana’s hand. If she wasn’t by his side there was no way he could sleep. So he searched and searched for what felt like eternity. Until finally he felt it. The sensation was faint but it was undoubtedly hers. A warm smile of comfort spread across his face.

At last, he could rest, knowing she would always be by his side.

The sound of a heart rate monitor’s loud steady beep whistled continually until it was turned off by a nurse.

“Time of death, 4:15 AM,” the doctor said with a sigh, removing his finger from the body’s pulse and putting away the paddles on the crash cart.

The surrounding nurses were busy charting and cleaning up the equipment that had been used in the attempt to keep the patient alive. In the hospital bed lay a man, wrinkled by time and illness. Holding onto his hand was a woman with long gray hair, signs of her past beauty still shining through in their own way. She wept with heavy sobs, gripping the bony hand of her husband. A nurse at her side, whispering words of comfort that no one wants to hear, but needs to hear.

“He’s in a better place.”

“He’s not in pain anymore.”

“I’m sure he was happy you were by his side at the end.”

Tiana didn’t want to hear these awful things, she just wanted her Rico back.

“Nurse, please cover the patient and tell the rest of the family they can come say their final goodbyes before the body is transported to the morgue,” the doctor said rather bluntly as he pulled off his gloves and left the room without another word.

Once the nurse did as instructed, she held the door open for a large group to come in. All of them were sleepy, many with their eyes red and puffy, some still shedding painful tears from worn out tear ducts. There were children, teens, parents, and more, all there, in the early morning hours, to say goodbye one last time.

The large family spent every last moment they could with the man who lay still on the bed. Each one saying their goodbyes in their own special way. From the heart felt sentiments to the babbling of newborn babies.

“I love you. Grandpa. I’ll miss you,” came from most of the children.

“You were always such an inspiration, I can’t believe you're really gone,” was spoken by many In-laws and spouses, though not related by blood, were no less family.

But those hit the hardest always seemed to speak the least. Letting their tears and last embraces say more than words ever could.

And then was Tiana, who was the last one to leave, and the last to let go. Though her sadness was immeasurable, she knew the smile on his face well. And she knew he had passed on, happy and without regret. Her hand stroked through the bristly gray hairs on his head.

“Goodbye…. my love, till we meet again.”

“Didn’t the doctor say he only had like a week when he first got here?” One of the nurses said to another.

“Yeah, but he has been here since may.”

“That’s like four months!” There was astonishment in her voice.

“Apparently, he used to be some athlete fifty years ago or so. I think I heard he went to the Olympics or something.”

“Wow, no wonder, not many can survive so long once they contract what he did.”

The other nurse nodded.

“Did you see his face as he flatlined, though? He was smiling even as his heart stopped.”

“I wonder what he was thinking about in those last moments.”

“I bet it was nice.”