Maya sat at the end of the bench, her eyes focused intently on the court. Despite not being in the starting lineup, her presence was felt throughout the team. She leaned forward, clapping her hands energetically. "Come on, team! Let's show them what we've got!"
Lena, a usually confident player, sat with her head in her hands, the weight of self-doubt heavy on her shoulders. Maya noticed and quietly sat beside her. "Hey, you got this," she said softly, her voice a balm to Lena's nerves. "Remember why you started playing in the first place. Play for the love of it."
"Thanks, Maya. I just... I don't want to let anyone down," Lena replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"We're all in this together. Just be yourself out there," Maya reassured her.
Maya watched with bated breath, her eyes never leaving Lena as she dribbled past opponents with newfound vigor. "Yes, Lena! That's it!" she cheered, her voice rising above the clamor. Each pass and shot seemed to carry the weight of Maya's encouragement.
Lena stood at the free-throw line, the game tied with seconds to spare. Maya caught her eye from the bench, giving a thumbs-up. "Just breathe and follow through," she mouthed silently. Lena nodded, took a deep breath, and released the ball. It arced beautifully through the air, swishing cleanly through the net.
Lena found Maya in the chaos, pulling her into a jubilant hug. "We did it! We really did it!" Lena exclaimed, her face alight with joy. "You did it, Lena. You played your heart out," Maya replied, her smile as bright as the victory lights above them.
Maya lingered a moment longer, her heart full from witnessing her team's triumph. Though she hadn't played, she knew her role was just as vital. "Next year, I'll be out there too," she whispered to herself with determination, the promise of future growth shining in her eyes.
