"Teanna Lochan, row 2, seat 4. My question is for Robin Ali!" A woman spoke, looking at the young player, who nodded, "I noticed that you and a starting freshmen on the Nebraska team, Raven Ali, have a striking resemblance and the same last name. The way you two played off of each other with the same fierceness and determination which made me believe that you all have a relation. Are you and Raven related, and if so, how did it feel playing your family?"
Robin was hesitant to answer the question, specifically because this was her first time finding out that Raven was her younger sister. While she didn't want the media in her business, she knew that the people would find out anyway.
"Oh, yeah. Raven and I are related. While it was strange playing someone who I'm related to, I knew that she could hold her own. I believe that we are both great athletes, and I'm proud of her for being a starter, despite her age. She's definitely going to be the face of this program." Robin stated, keeping it simple. She didn't want them knowing just yet that they were sisters because they have yet to talk about their situation with one another.
"Matt Turner, row 6, seat 7! I have a question for Ali, as well!" The man shouted, causing Robin to listen, her hands running down her legs nervously, "First off Robin, congratulations on the win tonight, I know your team is proud. Second, I saw that you had Paige Bueckers, the starting guard for the UCONN Women's Basketball, here tonight. She was seen wearing your jersey and holding up signs with your face on them. As two of the greatest athletes at UCONN, how would you say your relationship with Bueckers affects the way you played tonight?"
Robin smiled as she heard them say her girlfriend's name, "Ah, don't even get me started on P, because I could talk for days. She's become a very important person in my life, and I absolutely admire her on and off the court. She's taught me so much, honestly, and the same way we pour confidence, passion, dedication into our games, we pour that into one another. So, seeing her in the stands tonight, cheering her loudest and rockin' my gear was completely encouraging and seeing our friends and family beside her just amplified that feeling."
They'd asked Robin and their coach more questions about the game, and she answered them all with confidence. But, deep down, it was all chipping away knowing she needed to have a conversation with her younger sister.
They dismissed her from the interview, and she returned to the locker room to grab her things and Harley, so they could return to the court. Eventually they arrived, seeing her mother, Paige, and the rest of their friends waiting for their arrival. They walked toward them with a bright smiles on their faces.
"Button, y'all did it!" Sandra shouted, pulling her daughter and Harley in a tight hug and kissing their foreheads. "I'm so proud of you, guys."
Robin hugged her mom back and thanked her softly. They pulled away from one another and went to greet her girlfriend and friends who excitedly welcomed her.
Paige grabbed the girl, pulling her into a hug and Robin nestled her face into her chest. She let out a breath she never knew she was holding when her girlfriend wrapped her arms around her. Finally, the comfort that she needed was restored because of her. All she wanted to do was stay in the blonde's arms and never let go.
She pulled away slightly, one of her arms still wrapped around her while the other was placed on her cheek. They looked at one another, Robin's eyes glazing over with tears and emotions that were still present from her father's presence.
"I'm proud of you, birdie." Paige said, stroking her cheek, "You won this, despite everything, okay? Despite everything."
Robin nodded, going back in for another hug. She breathed in Paige's fresh linen scent, soaking in this moment. After a couple of seconds, Robin made her way towards the group of basketball players that had truly shown up for her through all of this. She pulled each of them in a hug, smiles beaming on their face as they wished her a congratulations and expressing how proud they were of her.
"We're so proud of you guys! National champions! Like cmon!" Ice exclaimed, causing Harley and Robin to let out a laugh. They continued to talk as a group until Robin saw them looking at something behind her.
Raven was there with her family, receiving the love from her parents and younger sister. Robin watched as their father took pictures of them with a bright smile on his face. He didn't even make a move to acknowledge Sandra or their daughter. He only focused on them.
Sandra and Robin watched as he interacted with his family, their hearts wishing that they'd received the same love. However, in their hearts they knew that everything had happened for a reason. Robin came to the conclusion that while she wanted nothing to do with their father, she still wanted to know her siblings. She would not allow her father to take the luxury of getting to know her sisters away from her.
"We are going to go back to the hotel, Birdie. We know you have a couple things to handle here, so text us when you get back," Paige whispered into her girlfriend's ear, kissing the side of her face. Robin leaned into her touch, savoring it before she had to face reality.
"Okay, I'll see you guys soon. Thank you for coming, seriously." She said to all of them who nodded. They hoped their friend would be able to handle what was about to happen.
Harley hugged her friend as well before going with three rest of the girls, leaving Sandra and Robin together, conjuring up the confidence to say something to Corey and his daughters.
Raven looked over at her older sister, as she began walking toward her family and meeting her in the middle of the court. They stared at one another, recognizing their features on each other's faces. Corey was silent as he looked at the daughter he'd left behind.
No words could describe the feeling that all of them were experiencing.
"Robin," Corey spoke out, his eyes softening, admiring how much she'd grown since he saw her, since he left her. "I can explain."
Robin shook her head, tears threatening to fall, "You left me. I needed you, I needed my father, and you abandoned me."
Raven watched the interaction, her heart breaking for the older girl. She felt horrible about the entire situation. She'd never known that her father had another daughter, ever. Now that she was face to face with her sister and watching as she broke down in front of her father, she realized how hard this must have been on her sister.
"I have no intention on talking to you tonight, Corey. There's no amount of explaining you can do or time in this world that could make me forgive you for abandoning me. However, I will not allow you to keep me away from knowing my sisters. You've taken so much from me, and I cannot allow you to take them from me too. I deserve that, don't you think?"
Corey only nodded, "I'm sorry."
"Save it, please. I can't even hold a basketball because of you. I couldn't sleep for months because I thought that if I did, I would miss the moment of you coming back. I suffered through things that no young girl should because I lacked a father figure in my life. You ruined me, you had me believing that I was not worth anything. So, no amount of apologizing will ever mend the hole that you created. The only thing you can do for me is allow me to know my sisters. Don't force me to miss out on the experience and feeling of having them in my life."
"Okay," he said, "Riley, come over here please."
Another girl, who looked like a replica of Robin and Raven, ran over with a huge smile on her face. Her smile dropped as she looked at Robin's tear stricken face.
"Riley, Raven," Corey started, "this is your older sister, Robin."