The dumb foul

I was Kobe Bryant the day he died,
Everyone knew what had happened.
Slamming into her knee.
Falling to the ground yet quick to get up.
A foul.
I got a foul.
I had got a foul from falling onto her knee
“17, 1 7 foul”

I wipe the tears
The tears from hitting my nose into her
The tears of letting myself crash into her knee
Don’t let anyone see the tears

The audience must think I’m a fool,
I made a fool of myself.
The other team must have thought I was a fool.
Coach probably thought I was a fool,
Everyone watching must have thought I was a fool.

Either coach or a teammate yelled something to me,
But I couldn’t hear them over my own thoughts
It was an accident.
It was a dumb accident that made a dumb foul.
I will be fine.
My thoughts battle me trying to make me loose.
I won’t allow them, I must go on
I will beat my thoughts…

I feel everyone’s eyes on me as I get into my zone.
I won’t let myself do that dumb mistake again.
I get ready to play defense
Only now had the adrenaline relaxed a little bit
My nose stung from crashing into her.
I take a deep breath, focus on the game.