He dropped back.

He looked at Marcus. Marcus looked at him.

The game loaded. The pixelated crowd roared a tinny, 8-bit roar. Leo clicked the mouse. The quarterback, a faceless avatar named "QB #12," took the snap.

That night, Leo lay in bed, staring at the cracked ceiling. He wasn't thinking about the essay. He was replaying the throw. The way the receiver had a full step on the cornerback. The way the ball hung in the sterile, digital sky.