I am sitting in an empty football field after my last high school football game that finished a few hours ago. I'm the mid-field player on my team. But in fact that's not (1) now. I was the mid-field player because, as I said, this was my (2) game. That's a good way to end a high school football career (生涯), especially if you win, but even though you don't, it's (3) to leave at a high point. I was eight when I first started playing football. My dad (4) football, and he used to practise with me at home — passing, catching, running. We used to practise almost every evening (5) it got too dark. He tried to teach everything he knew about the (6). "Just remember: don't ever (7)." "Stay in the game. Don't lose your concentration (专注).""Go out there and give 110 percent(百分之……)every time." Well, that was a long time ago, but I still hear his words (8) in my ears. I had a lot on my mind (9) the game today. I don't like things to end, I guess, and this was the last game. I was talking to myself and warning myself about what to do and not to do. I didn't sleep at all (10), and when the sun came up this morning, I reached the point where (11) just wanted it all to be over, finished, done. But then when the game started, my mind became (12). I just lived in this game, this moment. I didn't hear the crowd, I didn't feel the cold or the pain, I never felt tired. I just kept my eyes on the (13), and it was just me and the ball and, inside, a soft, white light (14) me the way to, and it was a beautiful, empty feeling. It's all over now, and it's really getting cold here. It's starting to snow. The sun's almost gone, and I can (15) see the goal. Now it's dark and I'm sitting here all alone. Well, I guess it's time to say good-bye and move on. |