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nr"><picture><source srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" type="image/webp"/><source data-testid="og" srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/0*1DY0wtqpKjJzdvZl 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"/><img alt="" class="bh mw oc c" width="700" height="467" loading="eager" role="presentation"/></picture></div></div><figcaption class="od ff oe np nq of og bf b bg z du">Photo by <a class="af oh" href="https://unsplash.com/@spaablauw?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Joppe Spaa</a> on <a class="af oh" href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="bba0" class="pw-post-body-paragraph oi oj hd ok b hx ol om on ia oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd gw bk"><em class="pe">Drabbles are short stories — exactly 100 words. lf you read, clap, comment, highlight for at least 30 seconds, we’ll know you’ve been here — and I love engaging with readers.</em></p><p id="5606" class="pw-post-body-paragraph oi oj hd ok b hx ol om on ia oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd gw bk">“It’s only one game; don’t take it so hard,” George said.<br/>“You’re going to be fine,” commented Harvey.<br/>“Yes — I know I will. But can you just leave me alone for a bit to express and deal with my sadness?” Marcus replied.</p><p id="0f68" class="pw-post-body-paragraph oi oj hd ok b hx ol om on ia oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd gw bk">Marcus simply wanted people to give him a break. Instead, everyone wanted to <strong class="ok he">dispense</strong> words of comfort — and honestly, it was making him feel worse.</p><p id="89df" class="pw-post-body-paragraph oi oj hd ok b hx ol om on ia oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd gw bk">He felt badly about the loss — even if it was only a preseason game. He knew how much was expected of him, and the team. Or was the pressure really only from within?</p><p id="e8d9" class="pw-post-body-paragraph oi oj hd ok b hx ol om on ia oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd gw bk"><strong class="ok he">LESSONS:<br/></strong><em class="pe">1. Sometimes all a hurting person needs is time and space — and to know you care.<br/>2. When you’re hurting, be your own best advocate.</em></p><p id="6f12" class="pw-post-body-paragraph oi oj hd ok b hx ol om on ia oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd gw bk"><span class="jm"><span class="jm" aria-hidden="false"><a class="pf jn fe" href="https://medium.com/u/9486ba8395db?source=post_page---user_mention--aacb59be0b70--------------------------------" rel="noopener" target="_blank">OBA.T.K</a></span></span><em class="pe"> wrote an interesting drabble here, using the word “cultivar”</em></p></div></div></div></div></section></div></div></article></div><div class="l"></div><footer class="pg ph pi pj gv ab q pk jb c"><div class="l ae"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><div class="ab cp pl"><div class="ab q lo"><div class="pm l"><span class="l pn po pp e d"><div class="ab q lo lp"><div class="pw-multi-vote-icon fj gt lq lr ls"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="footerClapButton" rel="noopener follow" 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But can you just leave me alone for a bit to express and deal with my sadness?” Marcus replied.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:1f703b82ab49_5":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"1f703b82ab49_5","name":"0f68","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"Marcus simply wanted people to give him a break. Instead, everyone wanted to dispense words of comfort — and honestly, it was making him feel worse.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[{"__typename":"Markup","type":"STRONG","start":77,"end":85,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null}],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:1f703b82ab49_6":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"1f703b82ab49_6","name":"89df","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"He felt badly about the loss — even if it was only a preseason game. 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