Failed Aspirations

Jamaal's muscular Black body gleamed in sweat. His former head coach tossed him the ball, almost out to the three-point line. Nothing but net.

"You're hot today, King!" the coach yelled, popping another pass to Jamaal. He squared up, hitting another shot.

"Fuckin' league," Jamaal grunted. He sat down on the bench, getting a towel to wipe up the copious sweat.

"Keep shootin' like that, you might have a comeback in you," the coach offered.

"Nah ... " Jamaal said. "I shoulda never fuckin' left. The league fuckin' chewed me up and spit me out. If I'd stayed ..." He paused, considering. "If I stayed, I would have lost myself. Lost my girl. She was there for me from the start, and I almost threw that away." He got back up, taking several long strides towards the basket, dunking it hard.

"My future," Jamaal said. "Is here."