Short Story

But, over the years and for whatever reason, life got in the way and I forgot what it was that made running so important to me in the

As Gabby first walked on stage to observe she “scanned the 16,500 seats. Some were so high that she could barely see” (197). As she left for the Olympics, her host mom, Missy, gave her an enveloped with a note for each day at the Olympics. The first card came from her mom, it read “Breeeeeezy, you’re an Olympian! You did it! When you’re preparing to compete, I want you to always end up on top. Never forget that god has made you the head, and not the tail” (198). This gave Gabby so much confidence that she was ready to take on the floor. Team USA put itself in a strong position with the all around competition. Gabby came in third which is all she needed to stay here and compete with her teammates she has dreamed of all along.

“Don’t worry about it,” Mel said. “It is not like they care about you anyways.”

Running stayed on my mind all throughout the day, it was what I loved to do. At the Yukon state track meet my heart was racing more than ever. I’ve trained all season for this meet hoping to place top 6 in the state. It was blazing hot outside with the wind pushing a little hard against us. Me and my team was up next to run the 4x400m against many other schools that were competing that day. As we lined up in order from first leg to anchor, listening to the referee position us on where to stand, we were all scared. The referee shot the gun and the first leg runners took off. When it was my turn to go, I nervously stepped onto the red 8 lane track.

“ I don’t care what you did might have been even but, this isn’t over.” Paige said with an angry serious tone.

Allyson Felix and Shaunae Miller are both incredible athletes who are great role models and present great sportsmanship. Each being a great sport after every race to each other and to the other racers around them. These women are looked up to by many. Despite the many differences they have, they have many similarities as well. These women are close if not already the fastest 400 meter runners for women in the world. They continue to work their way to the top, continually pushing each other to their

“How about you worry about getting the game seven win? Something you couldn’t do game three.”

For the next few miles, I thought about different things to distract myself. During miles four and five, I thought about the time I conquered my fear of heights by jumping off a high diving board. Throughout mile six, thoughts of my parents and my two sisters propelled me forward. At mile seven, the thought of four dogs greeting me at the door when I came home kept me going.

I kept running through pain and the second mile approached. The runner inside of me began to lose form and fatigue started to kick in. The sounds of the crackling spikes against the payment was intimidating. I, however was not going to back down this late in the race. As we passed the grassy, flat path my mind started to drift away from the race, the screaming fans, and everything in the race. I started to ask myself is this pain worth it in the end. I went back to the beginning of my training when I remember debating whether or not I was cut out for this line of brutal training and dedication. Everyday this repeatedly played in my mind. I was full of mixed emotions. On one hand, I wanted to be part of the team and form friendships with teammates. Or on the other hand, I would like to relax and concentrate on my studies and my studies. I needed the energy of excitement from the fans to rejuvenate my mindset. I wanted to feel that intense feeling of finishing the

“What the hell was that out there?” he flares. “Now they’re all going to try to get with you!”

"Don't squirm pig. You've had this coming for a long time!" Officer Danytha winced as the punk whipped her hand across the young Elf's face. Her uniform was ripped and stained from being dragged through the dirt, her normally alabaster complexion smeared with a combination of blood, sweat, and mud. Another impact came, throwing her to the ground hard and knocking the wind from her lungs.

She burst out laughing which was my goal. “Hey Pot, my name is Kettle. I believe you called me a nasty ass earlier.”

Theo was quiet for several seconds. "Tracy was right. You're a prat," he said, but he was smiling.

My cousins and I walk towards the man, giving him our baggage; beads of sweat dripping down my forehead, back, and armpits. “Oh no, I hope he doesn’t notice what I’m trying to smuggle in,” I thought as I lent him my backpack occupied by tons of vibrant, floral towels. He slowly opened my backpack, like a snail, zipper after zipper. I felt my skin starting to wrinkle, my back starting ache, and the sudden need to tinkle. Finally, he handed me my backpack; I rapidly strolled away from the guy as I just committed a felony; I brought in food from the outside. My cousins all believed that I over exaggerated the situation which enraged me because none of them obliged when I asked if they wanted to “transport the package,” which was ironic

After having waited for three days, unsure of Hannah's intentions or if she'd attempt to contact him again, Todd had been relieved when he'd walked in on it, and felt as if a burden had lifted from his shoulders. However, despite her reply and the security that it filled him with that he hadn't lost her, and likely wouldn't, the man was still pissed, and in truth, it wasn't so much with her, but with himself. The woman had affected him like no other from the end of a keyboard, and Todd was one who enjoyed being in control. Who needed to be in control and yet, in such a short space of time, she'd seemed, without even trying, to take that from him. He wasn't used to be the one waiting, to be unsure of what was going to happen, if he'd be