Part- 371:
The crowd erupted into appuse, but to Dipa, it felt hollow. She felt as if the weight of the world had settled on her shoulders. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, "I’m sorry. I cost us the championship." The words tumbled from her lips, heavy with regret.
Before anyone else could respond, **Ryan stepped forward**. His expression was one of passion and uanding. He bowed deeply to the crowd, and the audience responded with respectful appuse, reizing the effort Banani High had put into the tour. Ryan had always been the bae of the team, and his presence helped Dipa feel a little less alone in her sorrow.
Dipa could see James approag her, his reassuring smile cutting through the disappoi. "We win some, we lose some," he said, his voice calm and steady. "But today, we gave them hell."
As she looked into his eyes, she felt a flicker of fort amid the storm of emotions. "But I should have doer," she replied, her voice trembling. “I let everyone down.”
James shook his head, his smile unwavering. "You fought bravely. That’s what matters. You stepped up when we needed you the most." His words were like a balm, soothing her self-doubt, but they didn’t pletely erase the sting of defeat.
**Dipa’s mind drifted back to her past**. She remembered the times when body shaming had made her question her worth—those moments when cssmates had made snide ents about her size or how she didn’t fit the mold of a traditional athlete. It ainful, each remark cutting deeper tha. She had worked hard to overe those insecurities, to prove to herself and others that she was more than just a body. Yet, standing there, feeling the weight of the loss, all those old feelings surged back to the surface.
As the team gathered arouheir faces a mixture of support and sorrow, Dipa felt a lump form ihroat. James, who had always been her cheerleader, stepped forward, pg a hand on her shoulder. "You gave it your all, Dipa. That’s what ts. And you’ll e back stronger, I know it."
Her heart ached at the kindness of her teammates. They had shared the highs and lows together, and this moment was no different. But the fear of being a disappoi haunted her. She had wao prove herself, to show that she belonged, and now she felt as if she had let everyone down.
The team huddled together, their arms around one another, and Dipa could feel the warmth of their solidarity. “ime, we’ll e back even stronger,” Tisha said, her voice full of determination. "This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning."
Dipa wiped her eyes, trying to muster a smile, but the tears still threateo spill over. "I just wao help the team," she whispered. “I didn’t want to be a st-minute choice.”
"Hey," James interjected, kneeling to meet her gaze. "You’re not just a substitute. You’re part of this team, and we all believe in you." His siy struck a chord in her heart, igniting a flicker of hope amid the sadness.
