Chapter 1

I stretched as I bent down and picked up my hockey bag and lugged it out to my Midnight Blue Dodge truck in the parking lot. I stopped as I unlocked the doors and placed my bag in the back seat behind the front seats and closed the door once again. I adjusted my blue New York Rangers jacket as I walked back into the arena. I kept my head down as the bone chilling wind tossed the falling snow about. I stomped off my black work boots of snow before walking back inside. I opened the door and walked inside. I walked over to the locker room and turned off the lights and locked up for the night before heading home. I went out to the playing surface and stood in the benches and just looked around as the silence over whelmed me as I stood there. The arena was huge, come on it's Madison Square Garden. I had finally made it to the top where I belong. Well for now, until something stopped me or I had to retire. I was a hoping retirement would place me on the shelf like any other athlete. But a career threatening injury is what made tonight's game my last. "I thought you left Hawk." Jerry said as he walked up. I turned around and smiled gently to him as I leaned upon my walking cane to keep the weight off my nearly shattered left ankle. "I was just taking the rest of it in. I can't believe I won't be playing anymore..." Jerry walked up beside me and placed his hand upon my shoulder, "Even though you can't play here in the big leagues doesn't mean you leave the surface for the rest of your life. There are other things you can do to keep yourself in this game."

I looked to Jerry and nodded, "I know, but it won't be the same. Everybody knows this Jerry." He nods as he pats my shoulder gently. "You've played some great hockey over these past few years Hawk. I'm sorry to see you go on account of someone else's mistake." I nodded as we both walked off as Jerry turned off the lights to the arena and we walked outside. He locked up as I stood under the over hang keeping out of the snow. "You got everything?" he asked. I nodded as I sighed once again. "I just don't want to leave something I love that's all." Jerry leaned his hand out to me as I took it with mine and shook it sternly. "It's been an honor to have you play for me Trina. Please take care of yourself and don't be a stranger here." I nodded as Jerry walked off to his vehicle and left. I shook my head as I slowly made my way to my truck and climbed in to head back to my apartment.

I drove through the streets of New York listening to Metallica playing on my CD player. I had 'Whiskey in the Jar' blaring. I hated to leave the sport I grew up on back in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, but the injury benched me for life. I still to this day curse the player who decided to slap shot the puck so hard. It hit me in the side of the ankle, up under the padding and just shattered it. I would say it was a bad night for me and for the team. We lost that night. I pulled into my parking spot on the street in front of my apartment building. I turned off the ignition and hopped out of my truck gently as I dragged my hockey bag into my basement, one bedroom apartment. I kicked the door closed as I left my bag near the door. I turned on a light as it illuminated the dingy yellow mustard walls. That was barely showing through the stacks of brown boxes full of my stuff.

"Time to start fresh in another state." I grumbled to myself. I removed my jacket and tossed it upon my couch as I kicked off my work boots to the side. I ended up taking a hot shower and just heading to bed. I laid there and just stared at the dingy ceiling above me. "Hopefully things will be different for me with this move. I need to get myself back on my feet, now that I can't do something I love." I sighed as I closed my eyes and drift off to sleep, dreaming of hopefully a brighter future. One that wouldn't be taken away from me like before.