5 years earlier
"Lyra, pass the ball!" Billy yelled across the yard, his voice carrying over the sound of laughter and shouts from the other kids.
"Can't you see I'm surrounded?!" Lyra replied, her brows furrowed, breathing heavily. She paused, searching for an opening between the two boys trying to tackle her. Her eyes darted back and forth, her ponytail bouncing with each movement.
"Aha!" Lyra exclaimed, dribbling the ball out of the tight spot with a swift move. She sprinted towards the opposite team's goal post, her feet pounding the grass. With a swift kick, she scored, and the kids erupted into cheers. "GOAL!!!!!!"
The boys on her team lifted her onto their shoulders, chanting her name. "Lyra, Lyra, Lyra, our very own Lionel Messi!" They spun her around, and Lyra's laughter mingled with the cheers.
As they put her down, Scott from the other team warned, "Hey Lyra, I think I saw your dad's car coming this way!"
Lyra's eyes widened in fear. "Oh no, he can't see me!" She darted off to hide behind the house, watching as her dad's car slowed down, then sped away.
When the coast was clear, Lyra returned to the game, eager to continue playing. The sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the yard. Lyra's smile faltered as she walked home, seeing her dad sitting on the front porch, his magazine in hand.
"Good evening, Dad," she said meekly, trying to pass by him unnoticed.
Her dad looked up, his voice calm but stern. "How are you, dearie? Where did you go, and why are you so dirty?"
Lyra nervously fabricated a story about playing in Sophia's garden. But her dad saw through the lie, having spotted her hat on the lawn.
"
I'm sorry dad" she said her head hung low.
"Lyra, I told you before, you're not strong enough. You'll only get hurt," he said, his disapproving gaze piercing.
Lyra clenched her fists, tears welling up in her eyes, only if her dad could see how well she plays.. "But Dad, you don't understand-"
"I understand perfectly," he interrupted. "You're as good as the boys now, but what happens when you get older? You can't be stronger than them, can you? You'll lag behind, and eventually, you'll struggle and hurt yourself."
Lyra felt a surge of anger and frustration. She wanted to prove her dad wrong, but his words also made her doubt herself. She thought about all the times she'd played football, the thrill of scoring, the rush of adrenaline. But her dad's words echoed in her mind, making her wonder if she was foolish to pursue her passion.
She ran to her room, curled up in bed, and broke out in tears. The sound of her dad's disapproving voice lingered, making her feel small and weak.
As she lay there, Lyra's determination burned within her. She thought about all the times she'd proven herself on the field, the goals she'd scored, the wins she'd contributed to. She remembered the cheers of her teammates, the thrill of competition.
Young Lyra shut her eyes tight, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll prove you wrong, Dad... I'll show you I'm strong enough."
YOU ARE READING
The Last Year Of High School
Teen Fictionlyra was almost done with highschool, she was in her final year but she had to move back to her old neighborhood her old school, back to her roots, some things have changed since she left, how will she keep up with those changes join her as she vent...
