Elizabeth watched patiently from the cart as Austin hit what seemed to be his tenth bucket of balls. It was getting late and the fall air was rather chilly. Elizabeth was frustrated and had retired from hitting balls several hours before.
Elizabeth never quite understood what it was that kept Austin going. Was it his drive? Passion? Was it some unfulfilled dream? Maybe she would never understand but for the time being she looked on in admiration.
For two years after he finished his own sport practices Austin would meet Elizabeth at the golf course in support of her golf game. He picked up the game when she began to get serious about it so that he could spend more time with her because golf was beginning to take up a lot of her time. Meanwhile she was getting better but Austin was the one that was making drastic improvements. Elizabeth was supposed to be the one doing it for sport and Austin just for fun. Most days it seemed the other way around.
In Elizabeth’s eyes and many others along the way Austin was the real deal. He had the potential to become something bigger than most. He even dressed and looked the part; always adorned in a colorful polo, crisp khakis, and a Titleist hat. Austin had no trouble talking and walking with the best of the game.
For Elizabeth it was the sparkle in his blue eyes and the smile Austin would flash her after a great shot right after sinking a putt. It was as if he wanted to share the moment with her. Almost a thank you or that was for you. Whatever the look and smile that Austin he always gave her meant, she understood.
Austin was truly fascinating to watch. Just the sight and sound of that perfect swing attracted people to him. It was as if people at the course were simply drawn to him. There was a thin line between his personality and his raw natural talent that mesmerized the crowds he attracted.
Was Austin in fact as real as everyone believed? Was he legit? Or was everyone just sucked into the fantasy world that he was living in or even their own dreams of what they wanted him to become?
And then it happened. It was as if everyone just woke up one day to find the dream shattered. The smiles and encouragement just faded away as if it had all never happened and Austin was some fictional character that didn’t really exist. He simply faded out of everyone’s lives and hearts even Elizabeth’s.
Austin knew his dreams and goals had to be put on hold. Without the support of Elizabeth he couldn’t press forward. At least not at the time but someday he would reemerge stronger and more driven then ever. He just didn’t know it. No one did.
No comments:
Post a Comment