Nothing prepares you for this adulthood phase, where our bodies start to feel things we can’t explain and medical bills become part of our budgets.

Once the school year started, the basketball year started. Unfortunately, I was still recovering from my right leg ACL surgery and wasn't cleared to play. Fast forward, once I was cleared to play, I tore my left ACL. My life crushed. I didn't have a great roommate or a close friend. I felt lonely. I was then less of a crybaby, but I felt like I was one of God's forgotten kids. 

So I asked him, “Why did you leave?” He told me about the stories of juju in the league. The funniest story was during a heated-up final game series where the opponents were believed to have smeared some form of juju at the entrance to the arena. When his team was tipped off, they were all mandated to enter the arena through a window. I laughed so hard at the superstitious idea.

Three and a half hours later, I suddenly drifted out of slumberland. As soon as I opened my eyes, the strong sun rays forced me to blink endlessly. The coach noticed I was back to life and announced, “We are in Devil’s Lake.” I instinctively responded, “We have arrived so early,”  He smiled and said, “It’s almost 8:00 pm.”

He had a genuine smile showing his well-aligned dental formula - teeth as white as snow - and the cheek smile lines curved out. There were twinkles in both eyes sharing in the smile. His eye buds had curved to the radiance of his face...

I took this picture the evening I was told I had an ACL surgery. I stared at the picture and my eyes betrayed all the emotion I wanted to...