Voices with no Words
Every line came as every separate ball Root couldn't hit at the nets.
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In a certain lifetime, we face so many ups and downs. Somewhere, we even lose faith. We keep searching for a rope that can pull us up or at least detain us down. I never fell from the cliff that was leading me to its end. I eventually halt my pace at the edge. I took a deep breath and walked a few steps back. I turned back to look at the path I kept running on and fixed my sight in the direction that welcomed me once. Once full of blesses and warmth. Now that it is changing the color of the sky, from blue to black. The sun is setting quickly. But not in the west, in the south.
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'If God gives me one more chance, I would run on the track even if it's abandoned.'
Why does even Root have that faith?
Counting the days as if the doctor had already given him his life expectancy. He has totally lost everything. After Stokes turned his back on him, he didn't even see through the lack he kept chasing after. And he kept things down while turning the face. As he could never forget the last glimpse.
Stokes, with all his unspoken desires, holds his gaze on him. All the voices around him became inexplicably ignored because Root was not the only one who kept his faith.
Forthright, his mind remembers the words he once slurred over Root. And the way he blamed him that night had never been erased from the depressed thought. After he left him in the abandoned place, he became dependent, thinking the way that had always taken him to a safe place.
He took a deep breath. Thinking himself is not enough to even look at. Now that Ashes 2025-26 is on the way. They just have two days left for the Perth test. Can't he give his minutes away?
Why did even Ben Stokes keep the faith?
Pointing the index finger at the coffee cup. Taken off the eyes. Got a quick, confused look. Then, again, he held the gaze at the same spot.
Yet not a single word could he hear in thousands of voices.
Joe Root has never made a century in Australia! No, within 5 years, he made 23 centuries! How is it even possible?
England lost the first test in Perth. They lost brutally even after having a strong squad. No wonder former players have faith in Joe. But I couldn't last longer. They headed to Brisbane. What now?!
'People I love always broke my heart. Even if it was parents or close ones. I never got the things I gave. I was not planning to be with him at the beginning. I might hide my feelings. But I only chose to show them. When I looked at my current stage, I found a desperate need for a company. And I trusted him. So much so that I could even bury my life under his feet if he asked so. But nothing is just permanent.'
"Joe- I can no longer take the stupid stuff. I mean, don't you understand? I've already had up of the fucking things. I know you belong to the royalty or bla bla whatever. But can you just look at my condition?! I am done with all of these. Just- just forget me. I might never feel silly for who I am. But YOU SHOULD."
Every line came as every separate ball Root couldn't hit at the nets. The title 'AVERAGE ROOT' from the newspaper and those boundaries combined like a huge obstacle that he can not ignore. He looked at Brendon McCullum, who pointed at the clock as the net session was over. He took a deep breath.
England won the toss and chose to bat first. Root was the only hope along with Crawly. But after falling wickets, Root was getting runs smoothly. But the team- the wickets were falling like every Root's boundaries.
Maybe he could no longer hold his same pace, scoring for almost a day and a half. He might chase more, but fate never favors. The fate- never could see its alternate face to him. The fate- he misses often.
The middle of the night becomes torture for him. Whether he stays in deep sleep or can not fall asleep. Where is the disturbing snoring beside him? No, he can not listen.
He is awake tonight. He is thinking why didn't he give the word- act as a revenge. Yes, he noticed why Stokes chose the black coffee today. Yes, he could say how things come up as excuses. The excuse he often loves. The excuse to leave him. The excuse to come back.
Root is on 98. He needs two runs. The 2- making his heartbeat faster, making his body shiver. The 2- where everybody's faith relied on. The 2- he could give as a gift, worth having.
The camera was pointing at Ben Stokes at the dugout. Root hits the ball and runs on the pitch so fast. But the ball ran faster than him and hit the rope. Instantly, all the people off the field scream with joy, stand up, and applaud. He made it! He made not only his 40th test century but the first one in Australia!
All the claps around him and standing in respect nearly pushed him deep. How could he ignore the clingy man sitting before him?! The instant guilt was the company of his awakening night. Covered his face with the blanket, felt no hands around him. He gave an immediate look at the person sleeping beside him. He didn't open his lips but consoled his mind- thank God he made the decision. The decision, no one could replace Stokes. He was the one and always the same to him.
He forgot the words he once took to heart. He always kept his undying emotion over it. The emotion, as a blanket covered him from the cold. How can he let some silly words erase the comfort?!
He knows his sun sets in the south. He knows the rope was always holding him up. He knows the faith has written a name on the abandoned place. He knows he can hear some steps turning around and closing the distance.
His lips spread a little bit. He took his helmet off and aloft his bat in the sky. He made it! Stokes made it. Stokes hugged Root so tightly that he was not letting anybody not even himself to snatch. Released a deep breath on the shoulders he always relied on. Held him closer so that his heart could feel Root's beat. Root didn't feel emotional. He felt proud of himself. Finally, he made it. He rotated his eyes all around the ground and couldn't see anyone. He only heard claps. Like his every wound, every tear, every unspoken struggle today clapping for him. He made it! Chased the abandoned road. He is not staying off from it. He wants to spend his entire life in that place, the entire night hearing snoring. He just wants to hold Stokes like that forever.
He puts on his helmet again. Targets the ball and becomes ready to hit again. Becomes ready to chase again. The difficulties, the barriers!
.....