Oh. My. Gods. - Weebly

THE BODY tee rubbing against my skin with every step. If I could
do it without winding up in a tree or a ditch, I’d close my eyes and
just . . . feel.
Running is when I know I’m alive.
Everything else is downtime.
Step, step, step, breathe. Step, step, step, breathe.
That pattern is my comfort.
Nothing else that happened today matters anymore. The crazi -
ness of my life melts away. In my mind, I’m back home—running
on the beach with Dad shouting encouragements and urging me
to push myself. No gods, evil stepsisters, or mind-muddling boys
allowed. All I know is I’m running and I feel perfect.
“Hold up here,” Coach Lenny announces, stopping us at a
clearing with a smooth dirt path that leads into a pine forest.
“Everyone walk it out, bring your heart rate back down. Get a drink
of water.”
He points to a drinking fountain near the head of the trail. I wait
until everyone else has taken a drink before getting my own.
Someone taps on my shoulder, just as I suck down a big gulp.
Coughing, I turn to find Troy standing behind me, a big grin on
his face.
“Hey,” I say, wiping at the water dripping down my chin. “What
are you doing here?”
“Thought you might need a good luck charm.”
He holds out his hand, keeping it fisted so I can’t see whatever’s
inside. I hold out mine beneath his. With a twist of his wrist, he
opens his fist and I feel something fall onto my palm.
“A feather?”
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