Where Do I Stand?

Fortunately, the court was empty all throughout his stay there. 

For once, there were no kids chasing after loose balls or older men playing pickup games. It was just Kai, the silence of the setting sun, and the hollow echoes of the basketball bouncing off the concrete. 

He dribbled the ball between his legs, feeling the familiar texture of the worn-out grip. He stepped back, eyes focused on the rim and shot a quick three-pointer. The ball sliced through the air and sank cleanly through the net. 

"Not bad," he muttered to himself, jogging to retrieve the ball. He didn't want to just practice shooting, though. 

He needed to push himself. 

What else could he improve? He dribbled down the court, picking up speed as he made a fast break to the basket. He launched himself up, going for a layup, then stopped mid-air and switched it to a reverse. The ball spun off the backboard and slipped through the net.

But something felt off.