2025-02-02, 05:55 PM - Word count: 218
When your life purpose is to put ball in net, things can get a little down when ball won't go in net. Either missed shots, or lack of opportunities, the mental toll of not putting ball in net is heavy and taxing. But you must know that it is not forever. This too shall pass. You will once again put ball in net, but it will take some time. This does not apply to Derba simply because he always puts ball in net. It's what he was put on the planet to do, and he does it. It brings him joy, but it also helps him avoid the dark place. It's a terrifying place. He has been twice in his life; once after missing an open net in his youth league semi-finals and once again when he had a penalty saved in a university friendly. The spiral was instant and the place was dark; torturous. It left a scar on the pink matter of his brain that will never leave. He will never go back because he will never again fail to put ball in net. If he does, his brain has a safeguard that will simply shut itself off. A sort of hard reboot. Thankfully, no one will ever have to see this.
