The Zombie on the Mound

I stood on the pitcher's mound feeling like a total zombie. Third night in a row scrolling until 3 AM, and now the baseball was practically glowing in the harsh afternoon sun. My arm felt like it belonged to someone else.

"You good, Marco?" Jordan yelled from behind home plate, tapping their bat. Jordan, who somehow looked fresh despite having three AP classes and a Instagram feed that always popped off.

"Yeah," I lied, wiping sweat that tasted like salt and regret. "Just warming up."

The truth was I'd started taking those vitamins my mom swore would help me "focus." The ones everyone at school was talking about. The ones that made my heart race like I'd chugged five espressos.

Coach Miller's voice cut through my brain fog. "Marco, you're up. Show 'em what you got."

I wound up and threw. The ball sailed way outside. Jordan didn't even swing.

"Dude," Jordan said, jogging to the mound while the team groaned. "You look dead. You good?"

And there it was—that moment where I could've said something real. About how I was drowning in expectations, how my grades were slipping, how I was taking those stupid vitamins because I was scared of falling behind. But instead I just shrugged.

"Yeah. Just tired."

Jordan nodded slowly. "My cousin's got this old cable TV setup in their garage. We're gonna binge some shows tonight. No phones, no pressure. You should come."

Something about the offer hit different. Jordan—perfect, viral Jordan—asking me to hang out? Like they actually saw through the zombie act I'd been pulling?

"Yeah," I heard myself say. "That sounds... actually good."

Later, after practice, I stuck my head under the water fountain, letting the cold shock wash away the exhaustion and the fake energy. Jordan waited by the bleachers, phone in pocket but not checking it.

For the first time in forever, I didn't feel like I was performing. Maybe that's what growing up felt like—not having it all together, but finding people who didn't expect you to.

"You coming?" Jordan called.

"Yeah," I said, and this time I meant it. "I'm coming."