Losing Side

The ball soared through the goal posts, and with it, my dreams of winning the championship. It had been my last year to win the big trophy. To prove to myself that I could accomplish my goals. But that dream plummeted to the ground as quickly as gravity took the ball back to the ground. Smashed. Ruined. All I had worked for, for the last six years...come to nothing.
The feeling only worsened as the crowd roared in triumph at the Jay's win. As they rushed the field, as the Blue and White confetti rained down upon us.
This should have been my moment. My day.
But from the beginning we had been out maneuvered, both on our offensive tactics and the defensive.
Tried as we had....we'd been utterly trounced. Us. The Rams. Favored to win from the beginning. Yet favor had forgotten us when it counted most.

I numbly moved forward, towards my celebrating opponents. Forcing a smile on my face. If my mother had drummed into my head anything, it was to take a loss with dignity. I pushed through to their Pointer. My idol Jimmy Hallens. "Good game man. Congrats." I said working to make my smile genuine. It wasn't like he needed another win, Mr. 43 Trophies. Now 44.
He took my offered hand, shaking it hard, greeting my smile with his own. "Thanks. Good game to you to, Bryce." he said.
That took me aback. I hadn't realized he knew my name. It was the first time I'd spoken to him. I nodded and let go, turning away through the see of blue and white. To join my own teammates as they left the field.

*****
My hometown looked like a Ghost Town, as I stepped out of the Taxi, my dufflebag slung over my shoulders. At any moment I expected a tumbleweed to tumble across the road. I kept my head lowered, and escaped quickly into my apt building. If I had thought loosing on the field was bad, coming home to a empty town was worse. There should have been celebrations, congratulations, parties, parades. Instead. Nothing. It made the empty dream I had all the more empty.

*****
I frowned at the padded envelope. What was this?
I tore it open and dumped out the contents into my hand.
I blinked in surprise, seeing the Blue and Gold ring. I frowned, sitting on my bed, pulling out the letter that was included.
"To the MVP player of the Game. Congratulations on a Game Well Played."
I flipped open the last portion of the letter, and my eyes bugged out at the check also included. "What in the world?" I muttered. If someone was going through the lengths to butter me up....well, they were succeeding. MVP? Hardly. That title once again belonged to Jimmy Hallens. It must have been a mix up.

-Inspiration from watching the Superbowl.