The next few days I kept finding excuses to walk by the gym sometimes between classes sometimes after school I told myself it was because I liked the light that filtered through the high windows around four in the afternoon but really I was waiting to see if he’d be there again

He always was Ryan never missed practice even when it wasn’t official practice he said the gym felt quieter when everyone else was gone like it finally belonged to him I’d sit on the bleachers camera on my lap pretending to check settings while he ran drills one after another his sneakers squeaking across the floor the sound sharp and steady

One afternoon he tossed the ball toward me again this time on purpose said your turn I said no way He said come on you can’t hide behind that camera forever I said I’m not hiding I’m observing He said same thing if you never try to move

I stood up anyway the camera strap swinging against my side He showed me how to hold the ball how to bend my knees how to aim just right My hands brushed his for a second when he passed it over and I almost forgot what I was supposed to do The ball missed the hoop completely bounced back hit the wall He laughed said progress I said that was terrible He said terrible’s just the start of better

We kept going until the lights flickered on automatically because it got dark outside He said you want to grab a drink there’s a vending machine out back I nodded even though my heart was already louder than the echo of the court

We sat on the steps outside the gym two cans of soda between us mine still unopened He said I used to hate basketball when I was a kid my dad made me play every day I said so what changed He said one day I realized I didn’t have to be good I just had to love it enough to keep showing up that’s kind of what you do with your camera right

I thought about that for a moment said maybe yeah maybe that’s it He smiled that slow easy smile like he was glad I understood

It started to drizzle light rain floating in the air not enough for an umbrella just enough to smell like the end of summer He held out his hand to catch a few drops and said guess the weather’s on your side again I said I don’t mind it He said I know you don’t

The sky dimmed into that strange in-between color where everything looks softer I took a picture of him then without asking just his hand against the fading light droplets falling past the frame He didn’t move when the shutter clicked just looked at me and said make sure you send me that one I said why He said because it’s the first time I didn’t have to fake a smile

We stayed until the janitor came to lock the doors he grabbed his bag and said see you tomorrow without waiting for an answer I stood there watching him walk across the wet pavement his reflection moving with him in the puddles

That night I developed the photo on my computer the grainy texture made it look older than it was but his smile stayed the same real and simple I printed it out and pinned it to the wall above my desk right next to a quote I’d written months ago catch the moment before it leaves

I looked at both for a long time until the room felt too still Then I realized maybe that’s what I’d been doing every day without knowing trying to catch a moment that was already walking away in worn-out sneakers leaving echoes behind on the court