Have you ever had everyone
Just staring at you,
Hanging on your next move?
Well I have.

Time stops
Daring you to move
Hundreds of eyes
Sear through your body
Your chest compresses
Aching like a ton of bricks
Just landed on top of you
Constricting your breathing.

The score clock flashes in your mind
Reminding you that your losing
As if taunting you,
Whispering in your ear
"Don't mess up."

Thump, thump, thump
The ball bounces towards you
Pausing behind the free throw line
Landing in your hands
Thump, thump, thump
Your heart pounds with anxiety.

You step up to the line
Tunneling your vision to the hoop
With a deep breath
You shoot the ball upward
Releasing it
As it spirals towards the hoop.

Swoosh!
All the pressure rushes
out of your mind
Leaving everyone
Just staring at you
But this time,
The pressure is off.