American Football: Domination

Adversity reveals true friendship—especially in competitive sports.

When you're winning, every fan and media outlet sings your praises. Everything feels like smooth sailing, the team standing proudly atop Mount Everest.

But when you're losing—when the going gets tough—the ones who still believe, still stand unwaveringly behind the team… those are the real fans.

Annie didn't want to be a "fair-weather fan."

She liked the Kansas City Chiefs, and she liked Lance.

Most people who follow football gravitate toward quarterbacks, defensive ends, wide receivers, or linebackers. Running backs—hardworking, consistent, but often overlooked—rarely get the spotlight.

But Annie liked Lance precisely because of the fighting spirit he carried.

Not because he believed in victory and thus gave his all, but because he gave his all, and thus fought for victory.

People often told her she was fighting a losing battle.

She'd even overheard her mother's friend comforting her: "You did your best, there's no need to feel guilty. In the future, you can start over, have another child."

Her ending seemed preordained—like she was some doll that could be replaced, forgotten, erased from existence without meaning, value, or trace.

But Annie was stubborn. She didn't want to cry. She didn't want to despair. She certainly didn't want to give up.

She wanted to fight—not because it could change the ending, but because she refused to surrender quietly, even knowing what the ending would be.

She was a person—with a soul, thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

She refused to be casually erased.

That's why she liked Lance. Even when the ending seemed inevitable, she would still give her all.

That's why she had to be here today, cheering for Lance in person. She needed him to know that not everyone had turned their back on him. She needed him to know he wasn't walking alone in the dark.

She needed her voice to be heard—because even if the ending was spoiled, it didn't mean the journey couldn't be beautiful.

Lance had always inspired her with his performance on the field. Now, it was her turn to pass that strength back to him.

Today, the Kansas City Chiefs were taking the team bus to the airport, heading to Seattle for a crucial game.

Sadly, Annie couldn't be at Arrowhead Stadium to cheer him on—but she could still see him off, and tell him in person.

When Annie told Felix about her plan, he agreed without hesitation. He even helped her convince her mother, promising a long list of good behavior afterward. And so, they arrived at the training facility entrance.

Unexpectedly, they weren't alone.

A sea of people was already there—throngs of fans crowding the entrance corridor like a parted Red Sea, waiting for their Moses.

Three hundred? Five hundred?

No—far more than that.

Kansas City, hardened by recent trials, had united like never before. They knew the team was under heavy pressure. They knew social media was overflowing with negativity. So, they came—because if they faced the storm together, there was nothing to fear.

A vast ocean of red spread before them—no different from a home game day crowd. Easily over a thousand, maybe more.

Then—

Lance appeared.

Annie's heart surged.

Cheering, jumping, feeling life pump hot through her veins, she screamed Lance's name at the top of her lungs.

"Lance!"

"Lance!"

The chant echoed and swelled through the crowd.

After recent turbulence, Lance's reputation in Kansas City had soared. He was now unquestionably their leader.

Some hoped he would lead the team back on track. Some hoped he would carry them through adversity into transformation. Some were simply there to cheer. Some wanted to become part of his legend.

The crowd was roaring.

Annie felt like a tiny boat in a raging sea—her voice lost in the storm.

What now?

Her mind spun. She saw Lance coming closer.

Closer.

Even closer.

Overcome, she started singing.

"Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart. And you'll never walk alone."

Once. Twice.

Singing, she found herself in tears—not sure if it was for Lance, for herself, or for the passionate crowd around her.

Her heart pounded—clear, fierce, and strong. A smile broke through her tears.

Her voice was still small—barely reaching those nearby. But it was strong enough to draw glances from those around her.

This wasn't the Chiefs' fight song. It was from Liverpool F.C.—originally from the Broadway musical Carousel, later recorded by Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Liverpool fans had made it their own, and countless fans around the world had sung it since.

Felix, surprised, looked at Annie's determined smile—and began singing too. Then came Karen.

Jenna watched, surprised and uncertain. She hesitated, stumbling over the words, softly joining in. She still didn't quite understand sports or fandom, and the passion scared her a little.

She glanced around at all the unfamiliar faces burning with belief. Her heart raced.

Then she saw Lance—smiling warmly, clapping to the beat, humming along, his eyes full of encouragement and gratitude.

It was the same look Jenna had given Annie at her birthday party, when she sang with her friends around the cake, making a wish. That mix of emotion and joy filled her chest.

The song ended.

Lance raised his hands high, leading the applause. The crowd roared, whistles and claps crashing like waves. Jenna's smile finally bloomed.

Maybe… things weren't so bad after all.

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Powerstones?

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