Jack and the Weight of Winning

Jack was the fastest player on his lacrosse team. He could run faster, pass smoother, and score more goals than anyone else. Every game, the team relied on him.

“Jack, you have to score!”
“Jack, we need you!”
“Jack, don’t mess this up!”

At first, it felt exciting. He loved hearing the cheers when he scored the winning goal. But as the season went on, something changed. The fun faded. Now, every time he stepped onto the field, he felt the weight of everyone’s expectations pressing on his shoulders.