Chapter 448: 447 Is Not the End Chapter 448: 447 Is Not the End The smile, so radiant, so sunny, Berry’s casual tone sounded as if he was discussing whether to go on a picnic tomorrow based on the weather.
But the more casual it was, the more it made one sigh.
Houston tried to speak, but his brain was a mess, unable to hold back the anger, the frustration and fury that language simply couldn’t convey.
“Eric, this isn’t funny.”
“This, this, this isn’t fair.
Didn’t the doctors have any other treatments?
Maybe it’s just a misdiagnosis by a quack?
You look completely fine now, don’t you?”
These were the same few lines over and over again, like a trapped beast.
Berry did not respond to Houston—
In fact, standing there, he could feel the pain in his heels.
The doctor said that because of Hargland Syndrome, his ankles were more prone to injury, and once injured, the pain could double, and surgery was the only option if he wanted to continue his career.
Berry had consulted four different doctors, and although the details varied slightly, the consensus was the same.
They all said that the surgery wasn’t high risk, but recovery would be extremely difficult; even with surgery, there was no guarantee that Berry could continue his career; without it, however, there was no hope at all.
Of course, there was still a choice.
“If you choose to retire now, the surgery can’t ensure your return to the top level in the Professional League, but it can ensure you live a normal life without pain.”
Berry knew that if he chose to retire, everything would quiet down.
No more tossing and turning through the night in pain, no more tormenting himself daily alongside the pain.
As long as he didn’t exert himself or fall into decay, he could live the rest of his life without financial worries.
But would he be content with that?
In the 2010 draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Berry with the fifth pick of the first round, and for eight whole seasons, except for two missed due to injury, he showcased top dominance in the League.
Successful and famous, he had everything but a championship ring.
After striving for eight years, just as the chance to compete for a championship on the Super Bowl stage was within reach, he had to leave in disappointment, play the cheerleader, cheering on teammates and opponents alike?
He longed to be on the field, to fight to the end, to burn passionately.
But the harsh reality was that he didn’t even have the chance to play.
It was his self-esteem, his pride, his stubbornness, his obsession, but he still wanted to try one last time, even if it might be the very last.
What Houston was experiencing now, Berry had already gone through in the last few days—
He had moved past the stage of depression and was trying to accept.
He tried to let go, he tried to persuade himself to retire, but after tossing and turning, he ultimately couldn’t do it.
Berry didn’t respond to Houston.
Instead, he fumbled in his pocket for a while, then walked up to Li Wei, opened his palm, and there was a twenty-five-cent coin.
“Rookie, sorry, I didn’t manage to keep my promise.”
Bitterness, sadness, pain, but Berry still tried to put on a smile.
Remember, he wasn’t depressed anymore.
He had accepted reality.
Berry took a deep breath, reminding himself to muster up courage anew.
Li Wei softly shook his head, refusing to take the coin.
A struggle flickered in Berry’s eyes, turning into a plea, “Rookie, a bet’s a bet.
You kept your promise, I’m the one who let you down.”
Li Wei shook his head again, “No, this is not the end.”
Berry was taken aback.
Li Wei repeated, “Eric, this is still not the end, it shouldn’t be the end.
Things shouldn’t be .”
From his past life to this one, if asked what the greatest gain from this magical journey was, Li Wei wouldn’t mention victory or glory, but rather the scenery along the way—
He tasted the wonderful flavor of competitive sports, and experienced its cruel bloodshed, but in the end, it was all a part of life.
Life, you only live once, it’s better to regret after trying than to regret not having tried.
They should seize every moment of life, to burn brightly and blossom fully, and when the time for the outcome arrives, then they can stand tall and say with full confidence and pride:
Even if Body is shattered, even if bleeding from a battered head, what of it?
Even if not reaching the peak to see all mountains small, even if not attaining the championship crown, even if struggling till the end but falling just before the final stage, what of it?
Their struggles and battles along the way, the way they threw their heads and spilled their blood, their perseverance and sacrifices, standing united beside each other giving it their all, those moments are the most precious and beautiful instants of life.
All else, is just icing on the cake.
Therefore, Berry’s persistence and efforts were not in vain, nor should they be deemed a failure.
Taking a deep breath, Li Wei straightened his back once more.
“Eric, the matter, isn’t over yet.”
“Let me tell you what will happen next.”
“You’ll undergo surgery, you’ll face a long and arduous rehab, you’ll question yourself countless times in the dead of night whether all this is worth it, you’ll be tempted more than once to give up, to let anger and disappointment control your brain.
You’ll hate the injury, hate the doctors, hate everyone around you.
You’ll doubt whether you can ever set foot on the field again, you’ll question whether all of your persistence was just a waste, and you’ll regret choosing once again this most painful, struggling, and difficult path.”
“You will persevere.”
“Because you are not alone.”
As he finished speaking, Mahomes was the first to stand behind Li Wei, looking at Berry with chest puffed out and head held high.
The matter, is not easy.
Perhaps other fans and spectators would lightly say “What’s so hard about persisting,” but they knew the difficulties of every injury and rehab.
Speaking of ten months is but opening and closing one’s mouth for just a few syllables; however, living through it means enduring one long, hard night after another towards an uncertain future with no guarantees, an agony that words cannot describe.
And because they understood, they would stand by Berry’s side, not just for him, but also for themselves, for every professional player who is struggling and persevering—
Keep fighting, we stand with you shoulder to shoulder.
One by one, the players all stood behind Li Wei, surrounding Berry at the center like a fan.
One by one, without prior consultation or secret discussion, but at this moment, the players united in the face of injury and fought side by side for Berry’s dream of Super Bowl Champions.
Not everyone may like Berry, not everyone may be wholeheartedly with the team, but at this moment, no one could be an exception.
The “Island King” Revis.