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My phone buzzed.

Mason.

Mason:

Coach just said I’m the center of everything now.

I stared at that.

Then replied:

Rowan:

Same here.

Three dots.

Stopped.

Started again.

Mason:

This feels like it’s closing in.

That was the first time he said it like that.

Not annoyed.

Not defensive.

Just aware.

MASON

After everyone left, I stayed.

Gym lights off.

Just me and the echo.

Coach didn’t come out this time.

He didn’t need to.

Everything he said was alreadysitting in my head.

You only control what you give them.

I thought about Rowan.

Not as distraction.

Not as problem.

As presence.

That was the issue.