Unexpected Setback

Jamar sat in the locker room, a cold towel draped over his head and ice packs strapped to his knee. The adrenaline from the game had worn off, leaving behind a throbbing ache and overwhelming fatigue. He was watching the TV screen intently, where a game that could determine their next matchup was playing out. His knee pulsed with each beat of his heart, a constant reminder of the toll the game had taken on him.

The room was quiet, save for the faint sounds of the game echoing from the TV. Jamar's teammates had already filtered out, heading to various corners of the facility to cool down and recover. Jeremy was getting a massage, Mark was soaking in an ice bath, and Tony was doing some light stretching. Jamar felt a pang of envy; he longed to head to the massage room himself to loosen up his tight muscles. But first, he needed to see the end of this game.