his insides fill with dread
when abe gives him a sign
that he doesn’t want to pitch.
no, it’s the wrong pitch,
they’ll hit it,
but he can’t shake it off.
it means he gets shaken off

mihashi still hasn’t shaken off mihoshi.

he pitches what he’s been told
as expected, the pitch gets hit.
his heart creaks from the added weight
it’s his fault.
it’s always his fault.
pressure pushes down
every inch of his body gets dragged along

his heart cracks open.
not again--

momokan whispers to abe,
mihashi, this is it, he tells himself
not even a second to let your heart rest
but momokan asks
you knew it’d be hit; why didn’t you say
mihashi looks away, takes off his glove
he can’t.
i can’t say.

mihashi, abe says
i will trust you.
abe takes his hand,
mihashi hands him his heart.