Page 16 of Healing the Quarterback

“I’m going to need some time to process this,” I say.

"That's what she said as well. You two are so much alike, you always have been," he tells me, and I can only stare at him.

"I can't believe you knew and never said anything to either of us. Did mom know?"

"No," he says, shaking his head. "She never knew or had a reason to know. She always wanted you and loved you very much, but no matter what we tried, our marriage was never strong or a priority. We simply co-existed together, until she died in that car accident."

The car accident that I blame Will Anderson for. I should have been with her in the car, she wanted me to go, but... I shake my head, not wanting to go down that road of thoughts right now. Instead, I say, "I'm going to need some time to digest this, so I better go home. I'll call you later, dad." I finish as I stand up and make my way to the front door.

Getting in my car, I make the drive back to my place, trying to process that Leia, who has been one of my best friends since middle school, is actually my half-sister.

I didn’t think this day could get any more awkward, but I guess I was wrong. What do I say to Leia? What if she doesn’t want to talk to me?

God, what a mess our parents made.

CHAPTER5

WILL

"Welcome back to New York and the Hummingbirds game. The current score before halftime is 34-7, the Hummingbirds, who get the ball to start the second half. So far, Will Anderson is having a great game. Take a look at the stats from the first half, the Hummingbirds have 432 passing yards and 376 rushing yards. Two of the touchdowns came from Will himself." Bill says.

"I will say, every time Will Anderson gets on the field, he always seems to amaze me, and in a good way," Jesse says.

"I agree. Let's see what Will and the Hummingbirds will accomplish this next half, or can New York adjust and come back, what do you think?" Bill asks.

"If New York can clean up their defense and close up the holes on the left side, they may be able to come back, but the offense also needs to find a way to get down the field as well as converting third downs," Jesse says.

"Well let's see if they can," Bill says as New York kicks the ball down the field.

"The ball lands in the hands of Safety, Jamare Corey. He goes wide to the sideline breaking tackles as he spins, he's to the twenty, the twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five, and he's finally brought down at the forty-two, and that's where the offense will start this half, as we watch Will Anderson walk onto the field."

"Will snaps the ball and passes it to running back, Henry Sanders. Sanders runs, gaining fifteen yards to ensure a first down," Bill calls out.

"The chains get moved, and everyone lines up. Anderson snaps the ball, looks down the field, sees no one open, but he sees and opening and runs the ball. He looks to be getting ready to slide after making the first down, and, Oh...wow, that was a hit from Martin on Anderson at the thirty-three-yard line in New York's territory," Bill says.

"I think they are going to have to replay that, it looked like targeting to me," Jesse says.

"Anderson hasn't moved, yet, and the medical team is on the field assessing him. Looking back at the replay, Martin definitely dropped his helmet and hit with the crown. That is definitely targeting, though we will have to wait for the ref and see what they decide," Bill says.

"It looks like the ambulance is coming out onto the field. This doesn't look good for Anderson and the Hummingbirds," Jesse comments.

"This obviously doesn't look good. It looks like the staff is bringing his father down to the field. The EMT's are placing a c-collar on him, and they have a back board. All the players have taken a knee on the field for the quarterback. The EMT's are loading Anderson onto the stretcher and wheeling him into the ambulance. Coach's face doesn't look great, but hopefully this is just a necessary precaution, and Anderson only misses a couple games and not the season," Bill comments.

"If you are just joining, Will Anderson, quarterback for the Hummingbirds, has just been loaded into the ambulance, and his father is getting in with him. Our prayers are with Will and that the injury is not season ending, but we will have to wait to see what the doctors and coaches say," Jesse adds.

The ambulance leaves the field carrying an unconscious Will inside.

"Will, you were hit so hard you were knocked out. We did an MRI and found that you have an ACL tear," the ER doctor says.

"How bad is it, Doc?" I ask.

"You need reconstructive surgery and lots of physical therapy. Unfortunately, you will be out for the rest of the season. Let's not forget the concussion you suffered."

"I get it, Doc, thanks," I say, feeling defeated.

"Look, you have the surgery and get the best physical therapist, do exactly what they say, and there will be no reason why you can't be back on the field in time for training camp next year, but you are going to have to do the work and listen to what you are told."

"Who's the best physical therapist?"

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