Obstacles (2)

"Thank you." Alex walks to it and bends down to grab a glass from the fridge. He pours some water into the glass then holds it in hand. He stares at his glass, and the memories start to hit him. Alex Scherzer…A man who used to pitch for the Amsterdam Sharks and was the best one. Roger was the scout who found him and recommended him to the team. He was their top prospect, won the rookie of the year, and broke multiple rookie records. He completed a lot of achievements in the first season, and people around him told him that he was a genius and he should be proud of himself. At that time, Alex was convinced and thought he would be the best pitcher in the league. He deserved a compliment from everyone. Hearing people praising him made him become arrogant and believe that he was the chosen one and could do anything, then he stopped working hard and participating in the training. When his first season was over, he spent most of his time on drugs, alcohol, and parties during the offseason. Based on the fact that he was a natural, everyone still believed that he was meant to be a shining star to lead the league, but unfortunately, after one year of glory, something terrible happened to the chosen man. He hurt his pitching shoulder in a game. He had to have shoulder surgery and missed half of his second season. After the surgery, he couldn't make it back to being the same pitcher he used to be before. He tried to pitch without 100% recovery, in the third reason, he had his second surgery for the same shoulder. It was a tough time for him.

During those days, Alex tried to rush but it took him more steps backward. He spent two more years dealing with injuries. As time went by, the Sharks lost their patience with him. They released him four years after he was named the rookie of the year. He knew that he had been suffering from depression since he had the second surgery because nothing became better. Alex tried everything he could think of, but none of them worked out for him. The giant of hopeless and powerless had crushed him down and almost killed him. A shining star fell and became nobody. People started to forget his name. Alex was lost when he was cut off and had no idea what else he could do for a living. He spent two years in a delivery company, but he didn't like it. Then something good finally happened, he received a phone call from Roger who was offered a head scout position from the Baku Fighters, and he invited Alex to go to Baku with him; the Fighter would offer him a position in the administration department.

"It's all in the past. I've moved on." Alex looks back to Roger, "And thank you for what you did, you brought me here when you accepted the offer. I am very grateful." and speaks, then he takes a sip of the water.

"It's nothing. I did that because you are a good man. I wanted to help you." Roger says.

Alex nods his head. He puts the glass on the table and sits on the chair talking to Roger. "Anyway. Thank you again. You brought me to Amsterdam and supported me no matter what. You were the only person who believed in me, and you gave me a second chance to embrace baseball again." Alex tells Roger that even if he didn't get released, he would still have left the team because he couldn't feel happiness. He hated baseball back then, it gave him so much pain, he wanted to quit baseball and perhaps, his life as well. However, two years of living without baseball changed his mind, he missed her, then Roger showed up giving him an opportunity to fall in love with her again. The only thing he wants to do now is not to let go of it again.

Roger looks at Alex, "Well I guess I was right. I believed that if you liked baseball just like I did, you would never give up. Now you are back, I'm glad I made the right decision." and he smiles. "You look like a different person now, look how humble you are. It would never happen if we were still in Amsterdam."

Alex listens and laughs. He reaches for his bag and opens it. He grabs a bottle of whiskey out of it and holds it in his hand. "Want some whiskey?" He asks Roger.

"Yeah." Roger nods with a smile.

Alex gets up from the chair and walks to the fridge again to have one more glass. He opens it to grab one more glass, then he goes back to his seat to prepare the drink for Roger. He sits in the chair and opens the whiskey then pours some into the empty glass. The one for Roger is ready. Alex turns to him and hands him his glass After giving Roger his drink, Alex turns back to the table to prepare himself a drink. He empties his glass quickly then pours some whiskey into it. When both of them have their drinks in hand, they begin their little celebration for the second change of Alex and his comeback.

They start drinking and become a little bit drunk afterward. Roger puts down his glass and places it on the bed. He stops talking and suddenly stares at Alex. "Alex." He goes, "Do you know what I did? To you?" and asks Alex if he knows what happened in Amsterdam.

"What?" Alex put away his glass. "Why did you become so serious all of a sudden?"

"Listen…"

"What?"

Roger sighs. "Do you know that I was the one who asked the front office to release you? I told them to give up on you."