miranbajrami59

"The Light Between Us"
In a town full of memories, the past is never really gone.

When 15-year-old Ryan Whitmore moves to Rosehill with his mom, he’s not just starting over—he’s running from everything he used to be. But small towns have long shadows, and Ryan quickly finds himself caught in something bigger than he expected. A girl who feels too familiar. A team he wasn’t supposed to lead. A truth that could ruin everything.

Between cheerleading tryouts, basketball tournaments, and late-night talks under the stars, Ryan, Anna, Ben, and Savannah are just trying to figure it all out. But secrets have a way of showing up—especially when you're finally starting to feel at home.

Basketball isn’t just a game here.
It’s where friendships are tested, futures are shaped, and second chances are earned.

THe Light Between us

The Wolves were playing under bright lights, but something felt dim. The crowd's energy faded as the scoreboard told the story—loss after loss. Ryan sat in the bleachers with his crutches leaning on the rail, watching as the team stumbled through bad passes and broken plays. They looked defeated before the final whistle even blew.

Final score: Wolves 42, Visitors 67.

Ryan didn't say anything as the gym slowly emptied out. He just watched the team walk off, heads low. A strange ache settled in his chest—not jealousy, not regret. Something more like longing... and purpose.

The Next Day – After School

Ryan returned to the gym for practice. He sat quietly at the edge of the court, out of the way, just watching. The drills ran. The same mistakes repeated. And then something—or someone—stood out.

A freshman. Skinny kid, buzz cut, nervous but sharp eyes. He kept trying to make these impossible passes—threading needles where no gap existed, throwing bounce passes into space that didn't seem open yet. But they almost worked. Almost. His hands weren't fast enough. His feet didn't move with confidence. The instinct was there, though.

It was like he could see the play before it happened.

Ryan leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes locked in.

After practice, the players filtered out. The freshman lingered, picking up balls and stacking cones. Ryan made his way over slowly, standing just in front of him.

The kid looked up, a little startled. "Uh… Tyler."

"You trying to be a point guard or a magician?"

"Those passes," Ryan said. "You're seeing something no one else is. But your body's not keeping up."

Tyler looked down, embarrassed. "Yeah… Coach said the same thing. I just— I don't know how to make it work."

Ryan nodded. "What if I taught you?"

Tyler's eyes widened. "Wait… seriously? You want to help me?"

"Only if you're serious about learning," Ryan said. "It's gonna be hard. You're gonna hate me half the time."

Tyler didn't hesitate. "Yeah. I want that. Teach me."

Ryan smirked, just slightly. For the first time in a long time, he felt the fire again—not in his legs, but in his purpose.

"Alright, Tyler," he said. "Let's turn you into the player you're trying to be."

Chapter 101 – A New Eye on the Court