Artist:  yareah (https://twitter.com/juleteon)

"The unrelenting pressure of being a captain, the duties of being a leader and the weight of a city on your shoulders only intensifies when it is not your team that fails....Rather, it is at its worst when YOU take the responsibility of winning and losing."

Despite Christian being the captain of the team and being one of the better leaders in the clubhouse within the last few years, he often overburdens himself with responsibilities and expectations, just like the Front Office does. He even goes as far as to take all the blame from the team and pin it on himself after a catastrophic loss. His passion for the game keeps him going, along with the fans wanting him to succeed and loving his attitude, but there are days where Christian reflects by himself. Alone. In his uniform sometimes. His expectations of perfection, his desire to win and having to be a mentor to not only the rookies, but veterans who have to re-find their way to their glory, it's a lot.

Mentally, Christian is exhausted and depressed with all of this weight. But, somehow, he finds it within himself to reset and go out for another season.

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This is actually more of a vent piece that I commissioned, kind of reflecting this entire year. This, without question, has been one of the most wild, hectic, stressful year or my life so far. From deaths in the family to losing fast-growing friendships......even to several, severe mental breakdowns, it was not a great year. On the flipside, I was finally able to succeed not only at work, but here as a writer and concept creator, so it wasn't a bad year. Depression has been part of me my entire life, Autism has been part of me my entire life. But, in the thick of it all, I find a way to continue marching on, and great things keep awaiting me down the line. Thank you all, Here's to a lovely 2024.