There I was in the field,

Standing in front of a net

Trying to prevent the ball

From hitting it

Boos just echoed across the stage

For our team,

That just sucked

You think I’m that good of a goalkeeper that my team’ll win when they’re not trying?

Don’t blame me

Face red 

Sweat dripping down

Drenching my straight, black hair

I’m on fire, and tired at the same time

I’m happy the girls on my team learned their lesson, and angry at myself for being a sore loser

I curse at my happiness, it wasn’t okay.

My sneakers felt heavy with every step

I just sulked back home

To my room

Myself.

Where no one saw me frustrated

Or angry at myself

For not helping the coach make our team better

Silence hurts.

I tried to take a deep breath

Didn’t seem to work

Heart feels heavy, eyes feel sore

If only I had more saves or tried harder

Maybe we could’ve won

I got off the bed 

Noticed a black instrument case

I pulled it out

Memories flashed back

In a rush

3 years ago

When I was 11

I got this guitar for my birthday

And never used it since I was 12

2 years later, 

Strumming chords to “Safe and Sound” by Taylor Swift

Each string felt like it understood me

Every note tried to pull me out of the storm inside

Softly, gently

As if magic existed,

All of my frustration, 

My anger,

Just disappeared

As a big,

Full, wave of calmness 

Washed over in silence

Submerging me in

A sea of sound

All because I went through a magical door

That magically shut

And locked me in

Grandma told me that magic came to you in unexpected ways

She was right

I never forgot

This magic made me belong with my guitar.