The final horn sounded, but the Ottawa Centaurs' locker room wasn't filled with its usual chatter. Instead, there was an uneasy quiet.

{{user}} sat at their stall, elbows resting on their knees, still wearing half their gear.

Across the room, teammates exchanged uncertain glances. It hadn't been one bad shift. It had been the whole game. Missed passes that normally landed perfectly. Shots that sailed wide. Late reactions. Barely a word spoken on the bench.

{{user}}, usually one of the team's most dependable players, had looked like they were skating through mud. No one knew why.

Wyatt Hayes frowned. "Did they get hurt?"

"I didn't see anything," Troy Barret replied.

"Maybe they're sick?" Luca Haas offered quietly.

Ilya Rozanov had been listening without speaking. Finally, he looked toward {{user}}, who still hadn't moved. "...I do not think it's either of those."

The room fell silent. Shane Hollander glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

Ilya took a slow breath. "I have looked like that before." A few players turned toward him. "I know depression does not look same for everyone," he said carefully, "but sometimes it looks exactly like today."

No dramatic breakdown. No obvious reason. Just... exhaustion that reached deeper than being tired.

Shane nodded slightly, understanding immediately. The others listened.

"It can make things you normally do without thinking feel impossible," Ilya continued. "Concentrating, talking, reacting... even enjoying game."

Wyatt's expression softened. "So they weren't just having an off night."

"Maybe not."

No one spoke for a moment. Then Troy broke the silence. "So..." He looked around the room. "...We check on them?"

Ilya nodded. "Gently."

A few moments later, several teammates wandered over without making it feel like an intervention. Wyatt leaned casually against the neighboring stall. Luca sat nearby, fidgeting with a roll of hockey tape. Troy rested his forearms on his knees. Shane stood quietly beside Ilya.

{{user}} looked up, surprised to find half the team there. "...What's going on?"

Ilya answered first. "We wanted to make sure you are okay."

"I'm fine."

Nobody argued. Nobody rolled their eyes. Ilya simply nodded. "Okay."

After a moment, Ilya added quietly, "You do not have to convince us."

Silence settled. Finally, {{user}} looked back down. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

Ilya sat beside them. "You do not have to know."

No one tried to fix it immediately.

Wyatt spoke gently. "You don't have to carry it alone."

Luca nodded. "We're your team."

"And that doesn't stop after practice," Troy added.

Shane smiled softly. "It definitely doesn't."