"you'll never Walk Alone."
The white support card was raised high. Among the vast and bustling crowd in front of me, it was vulgar and simple. It was just scrawled and hastily recorded on the white card with a carbon pen. There was not much. Modified and adjusted, and then held up high like this, floating among the sea of people wearing colorful clothes. The distracting colors made the support cards look weaker and weaker, and some of them were even unrealistic. They might be ready at any time. It's like disappearing into this ocean.
But Willis still saw it, reciting word by word on the tip of his tongue. When the scattered phrases were combined into a complete sentence, a mixed taste of bitterness and sweetness surged out. It hit him hard on the bridge of the nose like a heavy punch, and then he closed his eyes in embarrassment, hurriedly concealing his emotions.
you'll never Walk Alone.
you'll never Walk Alone!
Carefully, seriously, and repeatedly, Willis muttered this sentence between his lips and teeth, as if he was chewing every syllable slowly, and the emotion of sadness mixed with happiness stirred and collided in his chest. , he knew that the injury had to be faced by him alone, and no one could help him; but like never before, he felt the powerful force, and he would never face the difficulties and obstacles of the mountains alone.
Rehabilitation. Operation. Retired. Even if he gives up, he will not face this alone. The trajectory of his life has long been changed because of this team called the San Francisco 49ers, right? Even if we need to face the end now, so what? It's better to give it a try again before the end is approaching - with a smile from across the sea, the world is at my mercy! The heroic and domineering spirit began to surge again.
When Willis opened his eyes again, he saw Jonathan Baldwin directly in front of the crowd. He thought of Ryan Baldwin, and he also thought of Lu Ke. Even if his life is about to come to an end, he is still willing to bloom and flamboyant, because the factors of the nine people have been deeply imprinted in his blood.
Those worries and bitterness melted away little by little into the heat in his eyes, the dullness in his chest also disappeared, and he straightened his waist again. He became No. 52 of the San Francisco 49ers again, Patrick Willis, who is known as the "defensive team captain"!
Pushing the wheelchair slowly forward, Willis arrived at the steps at the entrance of the hospital, facing the reporter and the nine people.
The noise at the scene gradually calmed down, and the eyes of the pairs of eyes were earnestly and firmly focused on Willis. The warmth made his skin slightly hot, which made him look a little clumsy, because public speaking is really not his thing. Strength: "Such a scene still requires Bambi to come over to deal with it. I always feel a little guilty alone."
Willis said sincerely, he touched the back of his head with some restraint, and then looked at the crowd in front of him who chuckled for no apparent reason - was there anything funny about what he said just now? He means it.
"I'm serious," Willis added, before going on to say, "But I know that no matter what decision I make, Bambi will always be there with me and working hard with me and my teammates. , I will never be alone. I think, this is enough." Willis muttered to himself, not sure what he was talking about, then took a deep breath, regained his composure, and raised his voice again. got up.
"My examination results have come out. I have a contusion of the anterior cruciate ligament of my left knee. The situation is not as serious as everyone thought. It is mainly due to the accumulation of fluid caused by the old injury. It still takes time to treat." Willis did not elaborate on the doctor's request. Those professional terms are expressed with my own understanding, "After discussing with the team, I decided to adopt conservative treatment. The recovery time cannot be completely determined for the time being, but I still hope to catch up with this year's playoffs. I am a little greedy. , I want to fulfill the agreement I made at the beginning of the season with the team, and I will work hard."
Standing in the crowd, Jonathan understood immediately, and all the mixed emotions in his chest turned into impassioned emotion. He knew that promise, the promise that belonged to Ryan—the promise that had never disappeared and never been forgotten.
At a certain moment, Jonathan was a little envious of Ryan, but more than anything, he was relieved and happy, and that warm emotion surged in his chest.
Someone has said that there are three deaths in a person's life: the first is physical death. From a medical point of view, the doctor determines that the body's functions have stopped functioning and there are no more signs of life, and officially declares death; the second is social death. The death of the deceased is officially announced on a social level by holding a funeral, notifying the deceased's lovers, relatives, friends, colleagues and other casual acquaintances, and there will be no future party invitations or social events. If another invitation is issued, he will gradually be forgotten by society.
The third death happens to the closest people. When the deceased disappears from their memories, they begin to learn to forget, learn to continue living, and learn to accept separation. Gradually, a person's existence is hidden in Deep in the memory, it is slowly covered with dust and even forgotten. At this time, the third death comes quietly, just like the soul that will disappear after being forgotten forever in "Coco". This is spiritual death and the final death.
Three deaths, each one lighter than the last, but each time more cruel.
It has been four and a half months since Ryan's death, and Jonathan still has not been able to fully adapt to the life that his brother has left. He knows that Ryan still lives in his memories and the team's promise, and has never truly welcomed him. It was his third death, but at this moment, that heavy feeling became clear again.
Not only now, but also in the distant future, Ryan will exist with the breath of the San Francisco 49ers, as if he will never die.
Jonathan's mind began to agitate: Ryan, did you hear that? Not only Lu Ke, but also Patrick and the other players on the team, they all still remember your agreement. They all remember, they all remember firmly, it seems that you have never been far away from this team and are still living with us.
"you'll never Walk Alone."
The target of this sentence is not just Willis, nor just Ryan, but every Niner, every Niner who breathes, lives, and advances together with the San Francisco 49ers: You will never Walk alone!
"Honestly, I'm not sure how hard this road to recovery will be, but I'm happy to know that I'm not alone in this challenge, and hopefully I'll be back in time for the playoffs. I don't want to miss it. This journey." Willis's eyes fell on Jonathan, and even though they were far apart, they could still capture the firmness in each other's eyes.
Jonathan raised his fist high and whispered, "Never walk alone!"
One sound, another sound, one after another, the fans joined in the support, and the collective low-pitched shouts were superimposed layer by layer, and finally burst out with a sonorous and powerful force, like the sound of the collision of gold and stone. , rich sparks gradually filled the audience, and even those pairs of eyes became determined and enthusiastic.
No more words are needed, but they are already deeply bound to each other. The spirit of belonging to this team and this city has been deeply imprinted on everyone.
Willis couldn't help clenching his hands into fists, trying his best to suppress his excitement and joy. He didn't know how severe and terrifying the difficulties in front of him were, but he knew that he was ready to meet them. Preparing for the challenge, on the field, he is the leader of the defensive team, refusing to compromise and is absolutely strong; off the field, he is a member of tens of thousands of people in this city, fighting constantly and never walking alone.
"Ah!" Willis clenched his fists and began to shout and roar, as if he had broken free from the shackles bound to his soul.
The whole place is boiling!
At this moment, the haze hanging over the hospital became more and more intense, and the layers of dark clouds seemed to be brewing a storm; but in the open space in front of the hospital, the powerful momentum was firmly condensed into A rope, straighten your back and open your chest to face the storm.
They won't back down!
In a daze, it seemed that even the thunderous wind and rain became insignificant. No matter how big the wind or the violent rainstorm, it could not extinguish this blazing flame! Because he is not alone, and they are not alone. When all the forces are firmly united, then they have nothing to fear!
The reporters at the scene watched the scene unfolding in front of them with puzzled faces. They knew what was happening. This was not the first time this had happened to the San Francisco 49ers, and it seemed that it would not be the last. once; but the reporters still couldn't hide their confusion. As outsiders, they could never truly understand this team - their unity, their perseverance, their spirit, etc., etc., it seemed that it would always be a mystery :
Willis faced a serious injury that may have changed the trajectory of his entire career, but why did they still cheer for each other by chanting "Never Walk Alone"?
This is not an injury that can be overcome by the mental victory method! It’s not a crisis that can be changed with persistence and hard work! It’s not an illness that can speed up recovery with just a few slogans! Injuries are injuries, and there are objectively indelible cracks that have damaged physical functions. But Willis and the fans in front of him are like Forrest Gump, stupidly continuing to run at their own pace, and the incomprehensible eyes of others remain the same. There's no way to stop them.
Is this stupid? Is this stupid?
But why, the reporters’ eyes couldn’t help but reveal a hint of envy and wonder?
