Page 149 of Penalty to the Heart

Fifteen minutes later, we’re in my car, driving to the poorer side of town.

“This is kidnapping, you know?” he grumbles beside me.

“Trust me, if I was ever to kidnap someone, you wouldn’t be my first choice.” I chuckle.

“You always were a smart mouth,” he accuses, stewing in his seat.

“Maybe I do talk out of my ass most of the time, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day. So how about you stop your whining and hear me out.”

I know I have Lenny’s attention when he doesn’t respond with a snide comment.

“I know life is kicking your ass right now, and as someone who has recently been in that same dark place you’re currently stuck in, I know how tough it can be to see any way out. But take it from me, things will get better. You’re not done, Lenny. Just because hockey is no longer an option doesn’t mean that’s the end of you.”

“How do you know?” he scolds. “You still have two working knees the last I checked.”

“Little good they’ll do me if I’m two stones away from getting fired.” I laugh, surprising him.

“That’s funny to you?”

“Would you rather I cry about it?” I chuckle. “Or spend my time hiding in my apartment, feeling sorry for myself?”

His nostrils flare in contempt, but he doesn’t deny it either.

“All I’m saying is that we can’t control what is out of our control. Once you get that, once that shit really sinks in, it’s really fucking freeing. So instead of wasting precious energy lamenting about what didn’t pan out, maybe your time is best served focusing on what has.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Lenny snarls.

“Whatever you say, man. Don’t take my word for it.” I smile when we arrive at our destination. “But hopefully, my new friends will change your mind about it.”

I jump out of the car and walk into the rundown building with Lenny disgruntledly following behind.

Once we step into the therapy center, I wave and smile at all the familiar faces, eyeing Lenny’s perplexed reaction.

“The fuck is this place?” he asks, bewildered as he takes in the extraordinary scene in front of him.

“This is where people who could have easily given up show the world they still have much more fight in them. People who have been dealt a shitty hand, and yet, still refuse to let the worst thing that ever happened to them define them. Define their spirit.”

I watch his gaze scan the room and become humbled by it.

“Why did you bring me here?” he stammers, true emotion starting to clog his vocal cords.

“I brought you here for the same reason I’ve been coming here since I discovered this place. Because I refuse to let the dark hole I was trapped in swallow me whole. I’d rather feel gratitude than let myself drown in my own self-pity. And because the center is in dire need of like-minded volunteers. So, are you game or not?”

Lenny wipes his watering eyes with his sleeve and nods.

“Yeah, Donovan. I’m game.”

“Good answer, Lenny.” I smile, throwing my arm around his shoulders and giving them a squeeze. “Good fucking answer.”

“Come on! Is that all you got?!” I shout at Bellamy as he swings another puck in my direction, only for me to kick it out of the way, preventing it from ending at the back of the net.

“Dude, I’m trying! You sure aren’t making it easy for me.” He laughs nervously, wiping the sweat off his brow.

“What kind of goalie would I be if I did that?” I throw him my winning smile.

“And what kind of forward am I if I can’t get one past you?”

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it. I’m just that good.”

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