Six months later...
"What do you have there, Dad?" asked Lily, now ten.
"Game film. From every game I have ever played," said Matt. "I bought it for Luke. Luke never saw me play and you, Landon, and Lexi all did. I want Luke to be able to see me play, too. So that's why I bought the game film."
"All right!" exclaimed Landon, now seven. "You were the best ever, Dad," he added.
Julie said, "You know what?"
"What?" asked Matt.
"This is the first summer in seventeen years where you haven't had to leave for training camp to be the starting quarterback."
"I know," said Matt. "It's going to be a little strange, that's for sure."
"What are you going to do with the rest of your life?" asked Julie.
"Well, actually," said Matt, "I got a call from Marshall today. They offered me a job as a local scout. I took the job."
"That's great!" said Julie, picking up baby Luke. Luke smiled, as he always did when someone picked him up.
***
As the years went by, Lily continued to amaze everyone with her hockey talent. She was considered one of the best young players in the area, and Matt knew she definitely had a future in the sport. She was coordinated, a good skater and had a mean wrist shot. Everyone knew where she was with her trademark number 52.
Landon and Lexi continued to be happy, well-adjusted and well-liked kids despite the daily struggles and challenges having cystic fibrosis brought. Although they frequently contracted pneumonia and ended up in the hospital, they never stopped enjoying life and were always smiling. Their struggles served only to make them stronger.
Luke, their little surprise, continued to be full of surprises. He managed to keep the family on their toes and was the feisty one, for sure. Only after Luke's birth did the Saracen family feel complete. He made life fun.
Matt, Julie, Lily, Landon, Lexi and Luke would return to Texas one last time, for Matt's induction into the Dillon High School Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony happened to be on the same day as Matt and Julie's sixteenth wedding anniversary. Matt felt bad about that, so that morning he took Julie and all four kids on a picnic. He learned that not much had changed at all since he had left Dillon twenty years earlier.
***
"So, Dad," said fifteen-year-old Lily, "are you ready for the ceremony tonight?"
"Of course," said Matt. "I've been waiting for this longer than you've been alive."
Landon, now twelve, said, "Dad, did you write a speech?"
"Of course," said Julie, answering for Matt.
"Yes, I did," said Matt.
"Is it a good speech?" asked ten-year-old Lexi.
"What are you going to say?" asked Luke, now five.
"It is a good speech," said Matt. "And I was thinking about starting off by saying, 'To everyone in high school who thought I was a loser and would never amount to anything...YOU WERE WRONG!' "
"What?" asked Lily.
"Lily, don't worry. I was kidding," said Matt.
"Thank goodness," said Julie.
***
The Saracen family walked through the doors of Dillon High School for the ceremony. Luke asked, "Daddy, did you and Mommy go to school here?"
"Years and years ago," said Matt. They soon reached the high school's hall of fame.
"Look," said Landon. "Look at all the statues. Did you play with these guys, Dad?"
Matt answered, "Some of them. There's Jason. You know him. And there's Tim Riggins. And 'Smash' Williams."
"Smash?" asked Lexi.
"It's a nickname," said Matt. "And...JD McCoy? Even JD McCoy got in before me?! What did he ever do for this school?"
"Is this the McCoy jerk you always go on about?" asked Luke.
Matt said, "Yes, Luke. But let me tell you something. I am not going to let JD McCoy ruin tonight for me. Because this is my night."
"You tell 'em, Matt, " said Julie as they went to find their seats.
***
"Our last inductee is Matt Saracen!" The audience clapped and cheered.
Matt walked up to the podium and said, "Wow. I wasn't sure tonight was ever going to happen. It is a true honor to be inducted into Dillon High School's Hall of Fame. Who would have thought twenty-three years ago that that little skinny, fifteen-year-old backup quarterback would be receiving this honor? First off, there are two quotes, if you will, that I would like to share with you tonight that I feel have really summed up my journey. The first one is a Bible verse. I'm not a super religious person, but this verse really spoke to me. It's 2 Timothy 4:7. 'I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.' "
He paused before continuing his speech. "The second one is from the movie Hercules. My kids are a big fan of Hercules. The quote is actually more of a song. It's an excerpt of 'I Can Go the Distance.' Here it is. Don't worry, I'm just going to say it, not sing it." The crowd did chuckle at that.
Matt continued, "So here it is. 'I have often dreamed of a far-off place where a hero's welcome will be waiting for me, where the crowds will cheer when they see my face and voice keeps saying, 'This is where I'm meant to be.' I will find my way. I can go the distance. I'll be there someday if I can be strong. I know every mile will be worth my while. And I would go most anywhere to feel that I belong.' "
After another pause, he continued. "I did go the distance. But I didn't go it alone. There were several people who helped me along the way. First, my grandmother, may she rest in peace, for always being there for me and believing in me and loving me when no one else did. Also, Eric Taylor, my high school coach, for sticking with me through some lean times and for loving me like a son. And that's not just an expression. He also happens to be my father-in-law. Next, Landry Clarke, my best friend in high school, for keeping me sane during those long years. Our friendship grew to such a strong level that he also happens to be my children's godfather. To Jason Street, my predecessor. It was unfortunate to have my career begin only because yours ended, but you have never looked back and if not for you mentoring me, I doubt I would have gotten as far as I did. We have become friends and I know you have no regrets about anything."
Matt looked out in the audience and continued, "And last, but not least, my family. My best friend and wife, Julie. You wanted nothing to do with me at first, but that did not last long. Happy anniversary, honey. You truly are my best friend and I am so lucky to have you to be my wife and the mother of our four amazing children, Lily, Landon, Lexi and Luke. Lily, she's fifteen, and an excellent hockey player. She clearly inherited my athletic abilities and I know she will someday make America proud as an Olympian. Luke, he's five, and keeps us on our toes all day every day. Life is certainly never boring with Luke around. Landon, he's twelve and a sufferer of the genetic lung disease cystic fibrosis. But he has never let that keep him down. CF is what he has, but it's not who he is. Then there's Lexi, who's ten. She is also a CF patient and is a true fighter. Before she was born, she was given up for dead. She proved everybody wrong, though. Lexi is the toughest person I have ever known. We all know who she gets her toughness from."
As Matt ended his speech, he said, "This has been a true honor to receive and has been one of the proudest moments of my life. The last thing I have to say is that it doesn't matter how many people believe in you. What matters is that you believe in yourself. You have to go the distance. Thank you."
Matt stepped down from the podium as the crowd exploded in cheers. As he rejoined his family in the stands, he realized something. Chasing miracles is a fruitless endeavor. People need to create their own miracles. Matt had created his own miracles and had ended up as a huge success as a result. This was truly one of his proudest moments.
Author's Note: So my first story is finished. Thank you to everyone who read and sent a review. My next story will be a Jason-centered story (no timetable for when it will be up though). When it is up, look for the title He Restores My Soul. Thank you, everybody.
