"Everything you've worked for comes down to this moment, kid. You've got this, Kellon!" My head coach, Coach Mason Tomlin, shouted, giving me a reassuring pat on my back as I stepped onto the field.

My eyes glanced at the clock as I lowered my helmet over my face.

"Thirty seconds," I muttered to myself.

Only thirty seconds left in my first Super Bowl appearance, and it all came down to me. We were down by four, and the task was simple. Throw the game-winning touchdown.

"I got it."

I peeked up in the stands, searching for my mom. I needed a reminder of why I had to win this. I found her, and my eyes immediately locked on the angel image of my big brother Jeronee plastered on her shirt. His eyes seemed to be staring into mine. This was his moment, and I couldn't mess this up. I couldn't let his death be in vain. I zoomed out, looking at my mom. Her hands fastened together, praying. It seemed to be the consensus throughout the stadium for the fans sporting neon green and white. The fans in the opposite colors screamed and roared, trying to knock me off my game. They couldn't shake me, though. I was in the zone, and nothing was getting in between me and victory. I had to do this. If not for me, for Jeronee.

"Let's get this 'ship!" one of my teammates called as we lined up in formation.

I nodded, scanning the opposing team, paying attention to their coverage. I knew they were about to come straight at me.

"White eighty…." I called, letting my lineman know I would make a quick throw. The ball snapped, and I only had a second to glance at my wide receivers. Just as I had predicted, the defenders were closing in on me. Locking eyes with my right hand man, Braelon Davis, I launched the ball into the air. This was it. A lifetime of playing football, four years in the NFL, and it all came down to this.

"Come on, Braelon! Catch it!" I whispered under my breath as I desperately watched the ball spiral through the air. Everything around me seemed to move in slow motion. The stadium had muted in my head as I watched our star wide receiver leap into the air and snatch the ball down into the end zone.

"Touchdown!"

The referee's arms went up, signaling the ball was caught. The crowd screamed as I looked at the clock ticking to zero. I didn't have time to realize what we had done before the neon green confetti poured out of the ceiling and my teammates swarmed the field.

"Fucking Super Bowl Champions!"

I was engulfed in a sea of my teammates' laughter and cheers surrounding me. I'd just won the Super Bowl. Yanking off my helmet, I ran to the sideline and was immediately met by Braelon.

"I'm so fucking proud of you, my boy!" We embraced.

"You deserve this. We did this shit together!" I replied and meant every word.

Braelon had been my go-to receiver all year. We'd become the dream team in the media. I recognized that I couldn't have made it this far without him.

"You did it, Barnes. I knew you had it in you!" Coach interrupted my brotherly love moment with Braelon.

"Couldn't have done it without you, Coach T!"

I hugged him as some team officials handed us our championship t-shirts. Within moments, I was swept into a press area. I barely had time to slip my shirt over my jersey and place my championship cap on my head before a microphone was pointed in my face.

"Kellon Barnes, how does it feel to win your first Super Bowl?" a reporter asked as cameras flashed in my eyes.

I took a deep breath. I'd been media trained for this very moment.

"It's a dream come true. I've worked for this my entire life." I smiled.

"It was a close game. Did you ever doubt that you guys wouldn't pull it off?"

"Doubt is for losers, so no," I offered as I walked away from the press.

I scanned the field full of the team's family and friends, searching until I spotted my mom, Charlie, was rushing toward me. Her face beamed with pride and was wet with tears. I broke into a light sprint, eager to embrace her.

"I won, Mom! We won! I'm a Super Bowl champion!" I shouted, feeling the tears welling in my eyes as she wrapped me in her arms. I could feel the weight of all of her sacrifices dissipate. We'd worked so hard to get to this moment.

"Baby, I'm so proud of you!"

The overwhelming joy in her voice made the moment that much better. I glanced down at her shirt, staring at my brother's picture. Winning the Super Bowl had been his dream long before it was ever mine. It was bittersweet that he wasn't here to share this moment. He would never get to experience this dream.

"Kellon! One more interview!" a reporter called out.

I glanced at my mom, who nodded toward the reporter. I didn't like giving interviews. I was an introvert, but this was the most significant moment of my life, and it was good for my brand. Reluctantly, I broke away from my mom and turned toward the cameras.

"Kellon, what does this moment mean to you?"

"Everything. It's validation of all my hard work."

"Three weeks from today marks the anniversary of the tragic accident that took your brother, Jeronee Barnes. Your mom has your brother on her shirt, and we notice you're wearing his jersey number on a pin. We know that your brother has been a huge inspiration in your football career. Do you think he's proud of you?"

The mention of Jeronee had me grabbing the pin I had on my chest. I missed my big brother. It had been almost ten years since that eighteen-wheeler hydroplaned into my car. It wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about him or see his lifeless body lying in the passenger seat of my memories.

"I sure hope so," I replied, keeping it short, hoping they'd get the picture. My brother was off limits. Everybody knew that. The reporters shot a few more questions about the game, and I answered them like a well-polished machine until my mom pulled me away.

"We need to get the shots for the commercial," she said, smoothing down my shirt and fixing my hat before removing my brother's pin from my chest.

"Ma… I…" I began, but she interrupted me, holding her hand up.

"It won't look good in the commercial."

"I don't give?—"

"Smile for the confetti shot." She pointed at the camera pushed inches from my face.

I loved my mom, but most of the time, she was more concerned with running Kellon Barnes's business than she was with me. I appreciated her hard work, but sometimes, I just wanted my mom. Turning, I smiled for the camera before snatching my pin back from my mom and making my way to the platform where the trophy celebration was held. I watched as the team's owners lifted the Lombardi Trophy. A swell of happiness shot through me as my teammates cheered and embraced their families.

I couldn't lie and say I didn't feel a little lonely. Everybody had somebody to enjoy this with, and all I had was my mom, who was texting her phone, probably negotiating deals and setting up press opportunities.

"You're the champ, bro!" Braelon exclaimed as he passed me the trophy. His joy was contagious. "You're bringing your stuffy ass outside tonight!"

Usually, I would protest partying with Braelon, but tonight was different. Tonight, I was a Super Bowl champion!