Chapter 20
…
Damn! I've definitely lost some stamina. She thought to herself, but kept running regardless of that. The narrow trail snaking through the woods, and most of the snow had melted at this point which, admittedly, made the running easier. However, the same couldn't be said about those couple of months of severe inactivity she put herself through. To put it simply, if before she could run at an amazing pace to the point, she would simply get bored, then right now such wasn't the case at all. She was feeling it, and feeling it hard. Her legs aching from the pain she couldn't ignore, her lungs burning and wheezing for more oxygen, and she herself a dripping fountain.
And on top of that, she wanted to give up before finishing the last lap.
But I won't! She was determined, and started to add conscious effort to keep her legs moving. Moment later, her running past a curve which she was very familiar with, and knew that only about a mile was left.
'I've got this!'
Her voice rang in her head. No. A voice of who she used to be.
I've got this!
Her voice rang in her head. Yes. A voice of who she was right now.
'I've been through much worse!'
About half a mile left.
I've been through much worse!
She increased her tempo, and could feel it right down to her bones her body didn't appreciate that. But she was also aware of how close the finishing line was, and desperately wanted this last lap to count. Therefore, she adamantly tried to increase the tempo as much as she could, while the two voices kept replacing each other.
'This is a cakewalk!'
It is!
'I'm all about new challenges in life!'
Yes!
'There's no stopping me now!'
Exactly!
And she increased her tempo to the maximum. The two battling voices becoming one, and telling her she could do it.
It's so close!
Her lilac was burning from her own sweat dripping inside, but she kept her eyes open. Her lilac set on that invisible finish line, and she quite literally dragged herself forward. Before she realized her inhales where merely ghosts of what they should be, and that was her tipping point. Her body becoming incredibly heavy, especially her legs, and her pace slowed down to a mere jog. Moments later, her finishing her last lap, and immediately after consoling her knees for some support.
Drip. Pant. Drip. Pant. Drip. Pant.
She wheezed and sweated long after finishing her run. Still consoling her knees for support, and her mind was empty for a good, few minutes.
Drip. Pant. Drip. Pant.
She was getting better, finally.
Drip. Pant.
And then, after a handful of minutes, she had recovered completely. Almost. Her legs were aching still.
"I didn't make it," She quietly said to herself, and then, for some moments to come, she simply enjoyed the breeze. Her eyes closing as she did.
"…"
She enjoyed it still, before her eyes opened, and she set her lilac to her home. Noting that two lights were still up. One in her room, and the other in her dad's one.
"Those two…" She quietly uttered, and then gently shook her head. You simply can't help yourselves but worry about me, can you? She thought, and even though the night was still young, she started to head home. Her lilac just a little warm, gentle and soft. Maybe even excited a tad bit, but it most certainly was bright.
I'll try again, next time.
She briefly thought of her unsuccessful run, and was sure she'd eventually make it a successful one. After all, for those two, she wanted to be like she used to be.
No.
She just simply, purely wanted to be better. Regardless if it meant to be more like she used to be, or to merely be better than who and how she was right now.