elsa-health

The “green sea” sits bunched together in their assigned section; they resemble a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal with the bright colors they wear and the subtle way they bounce around in their green sea section . They are typical Loma boys who have all decided to come to the woman’s basketball game tonight. While the crowd screeches and cheers, Rhianna’s hit song “Diamonds” echos in the gym and the pop corn pops, i see Carlotta. I came to watch the team and my dorm mates tonight, but I came especially for Carlotta. I have never seen her play before but from what I have heard, she is a “beast”. Her face and body say otherwise tonight. She keeps doing this to her lips where she presses them tight, relaxes them and then bites her bottom lip. Recently, the team has not managed to win. The coach keeps calling her name out, giving her tips on what to do. She shoots and misses and while the coach yells across the court, her face looks as though she has blocked him out, completely just muted his voice. Her left hand has just become a fist and her knuckles turn white.

Its only been minutes since the game started and since it began, I have not taken my eyes off of Carlotta. Even while she plays she continues to do her lip twitch. Suddenly, I see her hit the court. Almost as though she falls in slow motion , I see her reach for the ball but she misses it. Carlotta is on the floor and the ball has rolled away from her. Still in slow motion, she crawls and drags herself closer to the ball. Now, I see the scenario in real time. Carlotta grabs the ball tightly against her chest. An apposing team member has managed to put her hands on the ball as well, but struggles to snatch it away from Carlotta. In seconds, the rest of the apposing team joins in and the court has become a  brutal dog fight. The kind with Pitt Bulls and Rottweilers.  It is a matter of who will give up, who is holding on the tightest, who will let go last. Carlotta is slightly dragged by the apposing team and its just enough to burn her skin against the court. The whistle blows and the Loma ladies help Carlotta up. Her knee bleeds and her face says she is ready for war, for payback. Carlotta plays for blood and the ball.