Golf gone wrong

It was a sunny day and the crisp fall wind helped guide the golf ball to a perfect spot on hole two. I’ve been in this spot on the fairway multiple times before, with the water to the left and in front, and a creaky bridge to my right. The green was straight ahead with a couple sand traps in my way. With an eye on my ball, I went up and hit it, having to walk up steep hills that make the course feel longer. I took two practice swings, with the short fairway grass spewing up after each swing. I hit the ball with a motion that felt as light and free as a feather. I then started looking for my opponent’s shot which was supposed to be right by the water by the tall weeds that were being tossed by the wind. I started searching in those weeds, stepping on the plants, letting the thorns slightly cut me as I was getting irritated this was taking so long. The longer and longer we looked for her shot, the louder and louder the voice in the back of my head got. For every wrong golf ball found, every parent coming over to help, the butterflies in my stomach started pounding faster. The coaches cart made a slight rumbling sound on the cart path to the right as I was sifting through the countless divots that lined the edge of the water. The fall day was quickly starting to change as my hands started to sweat and my head started beating as if I was dehydrated on a 90 degree day. A lump started to form in my throat as I thought of the worst outcome. Then, someone announced that they found a ball deep in the weeds. I couldn’t see exactly where because the sun broke through the trees and was shining bright in her direction. I did not know how to react because my stomach was doing literal somersaults. My opponent then read the marking on the ball, and it went through one ear and out the other. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know whose ball she found, but by the reaction of my teammate standing on the bridge I knew this wasn’t going to be good. Immediately my heart sank, the lump in my throat grew bigger, and the headache I didn’t realize I had became more prominent. The birds in the tree above chirped as if they were making fun of me. My vision became watery as I felt weights being placed on my shoulders. I didn’t even want to look my coach in the eye, I knew my mistake and I knew the 2 stroke penalty that went along with it. I apologized to my opponent for hitting her ball and took the walk of shame across the edge of the water to go and hit mine. As I stood over my ball, the stagnant smell of the water rose to my nose as my heart was beating faster than a hummingbird’s wings. As my real ball was shanked to the right, I could feel my body trembling, my hands clenched into fists, and my mind 10 places at once. The embarrassment and shame I felt for hitting the wrong ball was stronger than the wind that was whipping across my face.
