To the girl wearing my number now,
Would you ever guess that the jersey on your back has an incredible story to tell if it could talk? That your jersey that was once mine has been through the journey of a lifetime? That the number that you so proudly wear has seen every tear, every drop of sweat, every sweet victory and every bitter defeat?
What a story it has to tell. And it's your turn to add to the saga.
A number is more than a number to an athlete. It's your new name, one that you now live by. There's just something about the way the sports announcer announces your name with your number. It will send a shiver down your spine and a sense of pride will rush through your veins. Your number was specifically chosen for you. Not everyone is able to say that they wore that number. Just you and a few others.
But not only do you stand out individually, you're a part of something much broader: a team. Not only do you play for the number on your back, but also the name on your chest. You see, you're a piece to a magnificent puzzle filled with talent and a competitive soul. You play for each other and for the love of the game.
Sometimes you're going to want to quit and that's okay. You'll have a bad game, one you think that you won't be able to come back from. You'll be at a practice on hot day ready to give up because you're dripping in sweat and you don't have any more water. But remember who you're playing for because there's going to come a day when you wish more than anything to be out there one more day.
Nothing lasts forever and your time with that number on your back will go by in a blink of an eye. Don't take anything for granted because before you know it, your time will end.
The good and the bad times will become distant memories, ones that start with, "Do you remember that one time?" Your last day in that jersey will be one you never forget. You'll remember every second of you last game. The last catch, the last throw, the last hit, the last kick. No matter what it is, that last moment will stick with you forever.
One day you're going to hang up your jersey and pass it on to the next one so they can add to the story. I hope the day you hang it all up breaks your heart like it did mine. I hope you fall in love with the game as much as I did. I hope you look back on all the times you spent practicing and smile at the hard work you put in. One day it won't matter, but that number you wore will stick with you forever. Whenever you go somewhere and see that number, you'll say, "Hey, that was my number."
So I'm passing my number and part of my heart onto you. Your number is more than a number. It's a part of something much larger than just a game. It's a part of a team and a part of who you are. No one can appreciate how special it is but you. So wear it well. Wear your number proudly on your back and your team's name ever prouder on your chest because one day you won't have that opportunity anymore. One day, it will be something of the past. So put your jersey, put on a smile and enjoy every day of the game.
Yours truly,
The girl who wore your number before you
