Yes. Yes. Yes.

You just drew the Wildcard Card of Destiny, and it says:

CIARÁN: Agent of accidental emotional demolition via curious sincerity.

Let’s set the scene: late afternoon, field half-shadowed, practice just ended. Most guys are chilling, hydrating, roughhousing a bit. Ciarán—small, spiky-haired, overlooked more often than he should be—is sitting cross-legged in the grass with Dex, Brody, and Sean nearby.

He has that look. The one that means a weird thought’s been turning in his brain all day and now it’s coming out whether you like it or not.

Scene: “Do You Ever Wonder…”

CIARÁN

So… do you ever wonder if maybe the only reason anyone loves you is because you’re useful?

(Everyone freezes just a little. The breeze doesn’t even bother to move.)

SEAN

Jesus, Ciarán. We’re drinking BRAWNDO.

CIARÁN

I’m just saying. Like… what if people only keep you around because you’re good at something? Fast, strong, smart, funny, whatever. And once you’re not? They forget you were ever here.

(Brody lowers his bottle. Dex looks over at him like: your kid? Sean sighs, leans forward.)

SEAN

That’s not how it works, man.

CIARÁN

How do you know?

DEX

Because I’ve seen people lose everything—injuries, jobs, family—and the right ones still stayed.