Hope vs Despair

[McWolf 3,115]

It's a weird feeling. A good feeling, sure, but it's weird. The Vancouver Wolves eliminated the D.C. Dragons in 5 games to make their way to the 2nd round. This marked the first time in S.S. Hornet's career, the Wolves latest acquisition, that his team made its way so far the playoffs - the first time he ever won a playoff series.

 

Again, it's a weird feeling.

 

It had been feeling under the weather recently, it even considered hanging his robotic skates earlier than initially expected. Five seasons into its career, it doesn't feel as good about it, compared to when it started, when it took the league by storm and was selected first overall in the S72 VHL Entry Draft.

 

But a change of scenery made it possible for Hornet to feel hope again.
Hope that everything is not as bad as it seems.
Hope that it can play at an all-star level.
Hope that it can lift the Continental Cup once too.

 

Pure, unshakable hope.

 

It helped that it played so well in that opening round too. 3 goals and 6 assists in 5 games. It was a great round for Hornet. It hadn't really ever played at that level before in his career. Against such a strong opponent too, the Dragons. Hornet basically contributed to pushing legends like Benny Graves and Guy Lesieur to retirement. It could already see the headlines: "Steambot S.S. Hornet leads Wolves to title." Or something like that. It was only one round, but it felt great. It felt like everything was back to normal, finally.

 

Hope.

 

//

 

When you are feeling on top of the world. When you feel like no one can take you down, like no one can stop you. You have your target on sight and your mind is 100% set; you will reach that objective no matter what. You were feeling under the weather for a bit, but it's all behind you now. It's all forgotten already.

 

And then it all goes south anyway, because that is the way things go. Just then do you get to experience absolute despair. Feeling down is a thing. One more hit isn't all that bad. But feeling like things are finally turning for the best, only to turn to shit again.

 

That's absolute despair.

 

Then the questions start piling up.
"Was it my only chance?"
"Am I worthless?"
"Would the team be better off without me?"
"Was this whole thing, this career, this life choice, was it all a big mistake?"

 

The answer should be obvious. For basically everybody they are. You got three more chances, and you are still one of the better power forwards in the league. It's not the time to abandon. You still got three opportunities to win that Cup.

 

The only problem is that Hornet can't see these answers. Right now, all Hornet sees is despair. His hopes has been shattered, and it seems like nothing can piece them back together.

 

Despair.

 

//

 

This point task was presented by Danganronpa, I guess.
Please don't spoil it.
Thanks.