Epilogue: Saturday Nights are For The Boys

“...Via! Catch!”

“Wait! He’s sleeping!”

Startled by their voices, I snapped awake. The basketball was already mid-air, and all I could do was painfully bounce it off my chest with a flinch.

“You good bro?” Prius asked.

“...Yeah. I was just a little tired.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?” Coco inquired. She had run from across the court in a matter of seconds. “Do you need me to grab the first aid kit?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“You’re getting way too excited with that thing,” Ravi laughed. “Sorry Via, she just wants excuses to use her med kit.”

“Shut up.” She smiled, then stopped when she stopped me. “Hey Via...” she started.

“Hm?”

“...No. Nothing.”

“Yo!” Prius called out. He was staring at me, eyes wide. “Are you crying dude? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you with the ball...”

“...Huh?”

I brushed my cheek, and trails of moisture met my fingertips. There was a fading melancholy in my chest, yet I didn’t know why.

“I’m probably okay,” I said. I tried to smile, since Prius seemed concerned. “I think it was just a bad dream.”

“Tsk, tsk,” Ravi clicked his tongue. “You need to stay awake, man.”

“Yeah, I know. My bad. I’m still a little groggy, so can we put off the three on three?”

“Yeah, sure. Are we done for the night, then?”

“No, it’s okay. Let’s just shoot some more to cool down before we leave.”

“Sounds good.” “Sure.” “I’m down.”

My arms stretched toward gilded skies that captured the concrete court with its enchanting warm rays. Prius waved off the high schoolers that they had been playing with, and the other two walked back onto the playing field.

Now who were these soon-to-be university students, preparing to play a little more basketball on this fine Saturday evening, before they’re overwhelmed by more schoolwork?

Here’s a hint: they were once high schoolers sharing lunch on the tip of a mountain. Then they were high school graduates singing around a campfire at dusk. Now they were adults in a park, playing together because of the bonds they built throughout their numerous road trips.

They were a series of strong relationships built on the fragile foundation of circumstance—fragile in the sense that if you went back in time and changed a single event, none of this story would’ve ever happened.

Alright, hints are over. Who were these people?

You’re right—it was me and the boys.

“Hurry up, Via! Stop daydreaming!”

“Coming!”

Standing up, I started dribbling the ball.

Thump. Thump. Thump.