Short Story – The Race

If there's one thing more heart pounding than rescuing a mystical realm called Narnia from a wicked White Witch, it's a school sports day.

My race is coming up. It's a two hundred-metre sprint. My legs feel like jelly, I am nervous.

"Boys competing in the Year 7 two hundred-metre sprint, please take your places!"

The announcement that was long overdue crackled through the speakers hanging above my head.

With my heart in my mouth, I walked over to take my position.

I took a big gulp of icy water from my drink bottle. It trickled down my throat like water tumbling from a waterfall into the whitewash below.

I brushed my blonde hair out of my eyes and wiped away the sweat that glistened on my forehead like morning dew.

"On your marks …"

I was terribly nervous. A bead of sweat trickled down my face landing on the grass below. All I could hear was my long breaths and my heart pounding in my chest.

"Get set …"

Can I do this? What if I fall over? My heart was in my mouth and my legs felt like jelly. I got into my position and looked at the track. It seemed extremely long.

What if I didn't finish?

"GO!"

The sound of the starter gun put me into a daze then I was off.

My legs were whirring beneath me. My heart was still pounding.

Sweat cascaded down my face like small rivers as I ran. I felt sick as I charged around the bend, nearly loosing my footing.

Each breath I took felt like a thousand daggers were being pushed into my chest.

I stumbled.

I was out of breath.

I felt like I couldn't go on but then I saw Lucy, Edmund and Susan at the finish line, cheering me on.

It felt like I had been running for ages, I hadn't looked behind me once.

My breath came out in short, exhausted bursts.

The finish line was so close I could touch it. I gathered up all my energy and sprinted, like my life depended on it.

I groaned in pain, tears of determination were streaming down my face, blurring my vision.

But I could still see the fluorescent red ribbon marking the finish line.

I dived.

I made it.

The man, who had begun the race, pulled me to my feet

He grabbed my hand and lifted it up to the sky in a gesture of victory.

"Put your hands together for our winner and champion, Peter Pensieve!"

All I heard was cheering, Lucy hugged me and Susan and Edmund clapped loudly. My tears of determination turned into tears of pure happiness.

As I was awarded my trophy, I fell to the ground. I was completely fatigued.

But, I had done it.

I had won the race.