The distance between Amara Darboh's past and his future was only two steps.
Sitting in the second row on the aisle at United States District Court in Detroit this morning, the Michigan football player heard the words for which he has waited nearly 14 years.
"Amara Darboh, Sierra Leone."
With that, he rose, took those steps and received his certificate of naturalization, becoming a United States citizen.
Wearing a black suit, black tie with a clip and red shirt, he held a small American flag in his hand, grinning for a photo. Then he returned to his seat, thoughts filling his head.