The Padel Court at Midnight

The hat sat on the bench—a cream fedora that didn't belong at a sports club, much like how Elena didn't belong in his life anymore. Marcus adjusted his grip on the padel racket, his palm slick with sweat that had nothing to do with the game.

"Your serve," David said, bouncing the ball. Elena's new boyfriend. Young enough to be Marcus's junior colleague, confident enough to borrow Marcus's wife on weekends.

The iPhone in Marcus's pocket vibrated—Elena again. Probably calling to say she'd be late, or that she wasn't coming at all. The third time this week. He'd stopped answering, stopped checking the messages, but he couldn't bring himself to turn it off. Like keeping a wound open to remind himself it still hurt.

"Marcus?" David's voice cut through his thoughts. "Everything okay?"

"Fine." Marcus stepped forward, swinging. The ball hit the padel racket's sweet spot and sailed over the net, a perfect shot that would have made Elena proud. She'd been the one to teach him, back when they still did things together. Back when the hat on the bench had been his father's, before he'd left it at Elena's apartment during their first real fight, before it became the thing she returned to him in a box with everything else he couldn't keep.

His iPhone chimed. A text this time. Marcus pulled it out despite himself.

*Can we talk?*

David had walked to the net, watching him. "She told me about tonight. That you two were supposed to play."

Marcus laughed, the sound jagged in the empty court. "She sent you instead."

"I offered." David's expression softened. "She's not leaving because of you, Marcus. She's leaving because she's been gone a long time."

The words hit harder than any padel ball could. Marcus looked at the hat, then at his phone—Elena's face still his lock screen, smiling from a vacation they'd taken two years ago. He wasn't angry anymore. That was the worst part. He was just tired.

"Your turn," Marcus said, tossing David the ball. "Let's finish."

He left the hat on the bench when he walked out. Some things weren't worth carrying home.