the beginning (we were winning)

Clay feels like he's flying when he plays with George and Sap. Well, there's flying, then there's whatever happens when he plays with them. Clay isn't sure the right word exists. He's never felt so grounded while he feels like he's flying, never felt so aware of every little thing happening around him: the sound of his skates cutting into the ice, the flashes of players moving around him, the slight give of his stick when a pass connects. The feeling he gets as they crash into him after scoring is like coming home after a long, long day.So there's George. And there's Clay, and there's Sap. And there's success. Maybe, at least a little bit, Clay is in love with the feeling of it. The feeling of them, together.