“Thanks!” A man shouted as he exited the sliding doors of Game Heaven.

“You’re welcome! Have a good night!” Hailey waved her hand and smiled at him as he left.

“That seems to be the last one.” Matt said as he picked up a game package on the shelf, admiring the pictures on the front cover.

“Yeah… But my shift ain't over yet.” She groaned, stretching her back as she pressed her hand against the counter. “Got three more hours before I can go home.”

“Wow, didn’t think working at a game shop could be so exhausting.”

“Yeah, me too. But we’re Game Heaven, open twenty-four seven… ” She sighed.

“Ah, a paradise for local gamers… ” He chuckled.

“Yep, that’s the idea.” Hailey sprawled her arms and laid her head down at the counter. A yawn escaped her lips as her eyes fought the temptation of sleep. Seeing her tired expression, Matt left her to rest, returning his attention to the empty case in his hand.

Kneading Hearts: Burp By Sweets? Is this a baking game? Matt read the contents of the case and felt ashamed of his unfamiliarity with its title and its genre. In fact, except for a handful of games on the shelf, the rest remained unknown to him. Tetris: Battle Royale? What even is this? His lack of knowledge unsettled him and made him look back on his own childhood for reference.

It's not that he didn't play games growing up, but rather, tennis just became the sole focus of his time, dominating his schedule at a young age. Yet during his rest days, however few and far between they may be, he’d pull out a handheld console alongside his friends and enjoy a good session of leisure and entertainment in their company. Those were the days… He thought to himself.

“Found something you like?” Hailey asked, surprising him from behind.

“Oh! No, it's just… I haven't played a game in while…” He scratched his head as he wore a sheepish smile, embarrassed by his own answer.

“Really? Come to think of it, you do seem more like the sporty type… ”

“Oh, is it that obvious?” He chuckled.

“Kinda. I played soccer back in high school, so I can spot a fellow athlete here and there.” Hailey grinned with a childish glimmer in her eyes, relishing in her head her own moments in the spotlight.

Matthew’s eyes wandered and stared at the girl sleeping peacefully on the small couch. Ah, so that sliding-catch from earlier… He pondered, recalling Hailey’s heroic deed. He was amazed to witness her swift movements as she saved her friend from falling on the ground.

“So, what do you play?” She asked, pulling him back from his thoughts.

“Oh, uhm…” He paused as he gathered his breath, hesitant to answer her question.

“C’mon, tell me. Is it Volleyball? Baseball?”

“No, I uh… I used to play Tennis.” He answered, masking his sadness with a weak smile.

“Okay, I was pretty close… Wait, did you say used to?”

“Y-yeah, I… stopped… It's been almost two years now.”

“Oh, I see…” Hailey averted her gaze as she felt the somber air that he exuded. She felt unsure whether to change the subject or to simply maintain her silence.

“Why?” A voice asked from the corner of the room, startling the two of them.

“Jeez, Alex!” Matt shouted as he took a step back, staring at the girl resting on the couch. “You scared me…”

“Why'd you stop?” Alex asked as she stretched her arms, eager to hear his answer.

“Were you awake this whole time?” Hailey interrupted, glancing at her friend with a sharp gaze.

“K-kinda…” She answered.

“Alex! I thought I told you before, don't eavesdrop on other people’s conversations!”

“Eh? But the topic was just getting interesting…”

“Even so, you shouldn't do that.”

“Fine!” Alex groaned as she sat up and leaned forward. “So what happened? Why'd you stop?” She asked with an innocent yet chilling gleam on her eyes.

Startled by her question, Matt gasped for words as cold, invisible hands strangled his voice. His grief had overwhelmed him and for a moment his mind succumbed to its control as shards of his painful memories pierced his own heart. His breathing turned heavy and his vision went darker the more he struggled to break free. No matter what he did, he could never escape it…

“Were you injured?” Alex asked, liberating Matthew from the grasps of despair and pulling him back to reality. He was stunned by her words, baffled by their ringing inside him as he gathered his breath and collected his thoughts.

“Alex! It's rude to pry!”

“It's alright Hailey.” Matt waved his hand, quelling the anger in her eyes with a faint smile. “Yes, I was.” He responded, startling them with a swift and honest answer.

They were simple words that held no meaning to him. What would I get from admitting it? He asked himself, considering it a weakness of sorts. Yet the moment he said those words, the moment he answered her question… A warm light resurfaced in his heart, illuminating the darkness that seeped its way through wounds he left untended.

For two, long years he stood strong… unwavering despite all the pain that came his way. Somehow, he took pride in it. Never once did he consider them the true shackles that held him down the depths of the abyss. Yet now he knew. Hearing her words made him realize it as his clenched hand released its grip. It's time to let go...

“It was at the semi-finals of a junior tournament…” He began as the two listened in silence.

“I chased a stray ball at the net and smashed my shoulder at the post in the process…” Matt recalled the memory in full, clear and vivid enough to almost relive it. “The pain rendered me unconscious… And, when I came to… I was already at the hospital.”

He remembered the white walls and ceilings, the slightly elevated bed, the restricting feeling of the cast that braced his right arm and shoulder… He recalled his mother’s worried expression, the tears in her eyes… He remembered the stiff face of Doctor Martinez as he discussed his condition and told him the bad news…

“Normally, shoulder injuries could be fixed with surgery… But the doctor explained that complications arose due to to the severity of the damage I incurred… In the end, they couldn't return it the way it was.” Hearing his words, Hailey’s hands covered her mouth in shock as her legs trembled uncontrollably.

“That accident ended my tennis career…” Matthew lifted his arm and held it at chest level. “That injury forced me to leave the sport I loved… and left me with a right arm that could never again… reach above my head…” He winced as his voice cracked, enduring the prickling pain that assaulted his shoulder as he revealed to them his current condition.

Hailey sank on the floor as her legs gave in. Her eyes teared up as he watched the agonizing expression that haunted his face. Even as an athlete, she couldn't begin to imagine the pain he was experiencing. All she could do was avoid his eyes and cry as she sat on the cold floor…

“I traded my shoulder for one point at the scoreboard. Isn't it funny? All those hard days of practice… All the challenges I struggled to overcome… All the skills I honed and polished… Gone in a blink of an eye…” Matthew felt at ease as he finally accepted the truth of his situation. By confronting his grief and despair he allowed himself to break free from their binding grasp. Perhaps, now I can move on…

“I disagree.” Alex said as she stood up and left the comforts of her couch.

“Huh? What do you mean you disagree? I told you the facts! There’s nothing to disagree about!” Matthew yelled, irritated by her words. I was about to move on, can't you just let me have that? He thought to himself.

“Alex! What are you thinking?” Hailey asked as she wiped the tears on her cheeks. She understood that Alex was onto something. As her childhood friend, she recognized the stroke of excitement that painted her face.

“Oh, c’mon Hailey. Isn't that perfect for him?” Alex answered as she flashed her a devious grin. Hailey gasped upon hearing her words, as the same thought finally clicked in her head.

“Alex, you're a genius!”

“Hehehe. I know, I know.”

“What are you talking about? Have you both gone mad?” He asked them, unable to comprehend the meaning behind their words.

“No, Matt. In fact, I think we can help you.” Hailey answered.

“Help me?” Matthew wore a puzzled expression as he noticed the overwhelming joy in their eyes. “How? How could you help me?”

“Hubby... Would you like to visit Wonderland?” Alex smiled as she extended her hand towards him.