Chlorine Dreams

Marcus stood at the edge of the pool, chlorine stinging his nose, heart doing backflips. He'd played baseball since third grade—shortstop, team captain, his dad's pride and joy. But lately, every time he picked up a bat, he felt like he was wearing someone else's jersey.

The swim team practiced at 6 AM. Marcus started showing up then, claiming he needed extra batting practice. Instead, he'd watch the swimmers cut through the water like they were born to it. Especially Kai. Kai with his easy laugh and the way he made everything look effortless, even when Coach was yelling about lap times.

"You coming tomorrow?" Kai asked one morning, dripping wet, hair plastered to his forehead.

Marcus nodded. Too enthusiastically. "Yeah. Definitely."

His mom had started him on these vitamin D supplements because "you're never outside anymore, Marcus, always in your room." He pocketed them every morning, then palmed them into the trash when nobody was looking. That's how he felt about everything lately—going through motions, throwing away the parts of himself that didn't fit.

The day he finally got in the pool, Kai swam over. "You're stiff. Relax."

Marcus couldn't relax. He was waterlogged with secrets.

"I quit baseball," he blurted. "Today."

Kai treaded water. "Okay."

"My dad's gonna lose it."

"You gonna join the team?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

Kai splashed him. Chlorine sprayed everywhere, and for the first time in forever, Marcus wasn't thinking about what he was supposed to be. Just what he was.

"Come to practice Monday," Kai said. "We'll teach you everything."

Monday came. His dad raged about wasted potential. His mom cried about college applications. Marcus took his vitamin D and actually swallowed it. Then he grabbed his goggles and headed to the pool, where the water waited like a promise he was finally ready to make to himself.