Cody's Promise

    It was a typical Monday in Vancouver when Chris Tanev approached Cody Hodgson, wringing his hands nervously. "Hey Cody," he mumbled, trying to sound cheerful.
    "Hey!" Cody responded, blissfully unaware of Chris' tidings. "How are you?"
    "Okay," Chris replied quietly. "Um, Cody? I have something to tell you."
    Cody shrugged. "What is it?"
    "You... you've been traded," Chris whispered, staring at the floor. He looked up into Cody's face and saw an expression of pain and disbelief.
    "I-- I have?" the rookie stuttered, completely overwhelmed. "Why? Where to?"
    "To Buffalo," Tanev answered. "I don't know why."
    The bewildered look on his friend's face was almost too much to bear for Chris. He looked away and wished he had not had the task of informing Cody of the trade.
    Cody's eyes shone with tears he was trying valiantly to ignore as he tried to process the matter inside his brain. "But... I don't understand," he managed. "I like it here. I want to stay. I never thought I would be traded." He swiftly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and looked back at Chris, who was staring forlornly at the ground again.
    With a sigh, Cody stepped forward to embrace his friend. "I'll miss you a lot," he choked out.
    "I don't want you to go," Chris mumbled. Oh great, he thought, now I'm starting to cry too. "It doesn't seem fair. You were so excited about making the playoffs and challenging for the Cup, and now you won't get to." He took a step back and regarded his friend. "If you're ever a free agent, will you promise to come back to Vancouver?"
    Cody hesitated. "I... I don't know, Chris. This is too much to think about right now. Maybe moving to Buffalo could be a good thing. My family is close, and... I'll have new opportunities, and..."
    "But it won't be the same!" Chris interrupted. "You won't be able to win a Cup there. You won't have us." He took a deep breath. "Please. Will you promise?"
    Cody looked out the window towards the sea. It was a beautiful Vancouver day: cold, clear, and bright. Spring was near. Cody looked at Vancouver, and with all his heart, he loved it. He turned his gaze towards Chris, and then he thought of the rest of his teammates. They weren't just teammates. They were friends; all of them.
    "Yes," he said with a happy sigh. "If I ever get an opportunity, I will return."
    The two friends smiled at each other and hugged once more before parting.

    Later that evening, back home in his cozy apartment, Cody was already packing up his things. When the first suitcase was nearly full, he took a garment from his closet and folded it ever so carefully. He laid it on top of the rest of his clothes and gazed at the familiar colours fondly: the blue, green, and white of his last Canucks jersey. Then he zipped up the suitcase and fell asleep, dreaming of hoisting the Stanley Cup someday in Vancouver.