Ice cold breath Michael emitted drifted in the shady midnight sky on the streets of Chicago. Michael couldn’t see or configure farther than 2 feet from himself given he had 4 beers. 4 beers wasn’t a big deal for most of his classmates who attended the regular house parties after football games, but for the star quarterback, one sip of the devil’s cup meant dreams of scholarships and getting a good education for free would disappear.
As his thought process reverted over and over again to the idea of having no money for school, he quickly regretted drinking after their last home game of the season before playoffs. Speed walking clumsily with the crowd towards the group of cop cars Michael began drunkenly talking to himself, regretting his illegal celebration for a win. Pacing back and forth all he could tell himself, “What were you thinking? Mom and dad will be mad you cannot get a scholarship and Jake will be the most disappointed little brother and number one fan.” All Michael could think of became his small window frame left to receive a scholarship with the season coming to an end. Perhaps his decision to drink was to forget about the stresses attached to high intensity sports.


With his drunken state trying to suppress the reality of the pressure on him, he continued walking closer to the cop cars where the crowd had formed larger within seconds. He began to be more of a curious George, as he approached closer to the scene. Shoving his way with his massive arms and robust stature, he got to the front like running through the defensive line of a football team. Just like everyone else he assumed a fight had occurred; frequent in Southside Chicago. He looked around to see what had started the mob of people but all his senses could attain was the screaming and the fright of all the people. The screeching of high school girls appalled at whatever they were glooming at caught Michael’s attention and gave him more of a reason to find out. His curiosity and concentration immediately made him more aware and less drunk as if an intoxication switch existed and was switched off.
It became that second he realized he didn’t know where his little brother appeared. All of a sudden he remembered he needed to pick him up after the game, but instead he went to a party, to forget about what mattered. Fear jolted through his body. Ambulance sirens started getting louder as it drove closer and closer to where they stood. Now he could see the sky filled not only with his breath but red flashing lights beaming through the crisp, cold air. As he panicked his shoving to get a closer view became more aggressive and accompanied by a low, terrified voice, “Move! Move! I need to know what is going on!” The crowd huddled around the scene giving very little room to move, like a concert on a cold day.

Finally at the front, Michael looked down only to see his worst nightmare. For a few seconds he stood still. While everyone around him crying and screaming hysterically at such a jaw dropping picture, he just stood there trying to comprehend such a horrific image. The crime scene looked like a movie, like it would never happen to him; the reason he could not react fast to understand that it was his 9 year old brother on the ground. The moment of realization he ran through the yellow tape and cops. Trying to hold him back, the cops were no match for his strength and hysteria. He dropped to the ground and picked up his little brother to cradle in his arms. Tears flooded down as he stared at his brother. It was the crowd’s turn to be in awe and silence. Everyone stared at Michael’s loss with shock and could not even begin to imagine what he felt. Losing a family member in your arms is like surrendering a little bit of yourself. Sadness hit everyone’s emotions, from the party guests to the cops, as Michael held his little brother while choking on his uneven breathing pattern from crying.
He held onto him tight, as long as possible, hoping his little brother could feel his hug of unconditional love. Pushing his hair back, Michael gazed at him. He looked just like Michael. They were as close as brothers could be. Half the reason he played football was to make his brother proud and happy and to give him something to look forward to. It kept him off the streets. Michael was always the one looking out and taking care of him. Jake loved football just as much as his all-star quarterback brother, if not more. They motivated each other. To keep each other out of trouble and danger was their job. But Michael had failed all because he wanted to throw away his drive for football to drink. Michael traumatized, devastated looked at his reflection through the puddle. All his regrets and apologies at that moment never seemed more apparent until he lost what mattered most to him.
Still crying, he stood up with his brother still in his arms and slowly walked to the open football field across the street. This is what they both loved. Nothing could change the passion these boys had for the game of football. As Michael looked his brother’s face one last time he was reminded that to lose sight of what is important or what you love means the possibility of losing it forever. His little brother taught him what mattered most and reminded him of what he loved. He lost his little brother. Michael knew his future did not entail drugs or alcohol, but rather the motivation for school, a scholarship, the love for football and the spirit of his little brother leading him to win within.
The last football game was like no other feeling or emotion between Michael and the game before. His passion transformed to an unwritten kind of love for the sport. The love for football and his brother became one making him more motivated than ever.
“This brotherhood I feel in this room overrides our opponents. I can feel the competitive fire that runs deep through our veins. I love each and every one of you. Like my own brother and I will not give up or forget what it means to make this school proud, to make each other proud and to make our loved ones proud.”
To throw away a chance to be great, to motivate others and to do what you love is a chance Michael will never take for granted. Everyone began to hug one another with joy. Michael’s last speech before the final game moved players to tears. After the huddle he took out his picture of Jake. Tears began dripping all over the picture.

“Whatever happens, happens. This game, my life, is for you.”