Down.
Those three words are muttered.
A world turns.
A play starts.
An object changes hands.
From safety to the unknown.
He breathes in.
Then out.
Right hand clenches.
Rolling out.
Escaping death.
Those three words sound.
So far away.
Down, set, hike.
Nerves wracked.
Every breath is held.
He lets go.
It spins.
Time stops.
His men look up.
Others too.
Fighting for their chance.
Distance carries.
Suspense held.
As it turns.
It turns for the worse.
The wrong entity.
Gains control.
He longs for those three words.
Down, set, hike.
Time stops.
Down.
Not in the sense.
Of gravity.
But in the sense.
Of an in-between.
Between their down.
And our down.
Between touchdown.
And first down.
Hearts drop.
They look to him.
Having failed.
Mood is down.
Ball is down.
Everything is down.