Nerves

NERVES
Icy fingers of dread crawled down her back. This was it. It was a day she thought she
had prepared for, but now that it had come, she realized that there was no preparing
for this.
She walked to the starting line. Took a deep breath. Clenched her fists. And let go,
her hands shaking. She stepped forward, her whole body shaky with nerves, fingers
and toes tingling with anxious anticipation. And...BANG. The gun went off, and they
went flying. Legs stretching out before her, arms moving, her feet ate up the ground
beneath them.
Her legs ached and her feet were on fire. Her breaths quickened and her lungs
strained. Yet, she felt free.
With each step, she felt the solid reassurance of gravel, just before she pushed
forward, ever seeking the next step. She heard the breathing of those around her,
mingling to create a new beat to which her arms pumped. Their pulses quickened
with their steps, fighting for the front, for the best. They were united in their rivalry.
Their pain was temporary, but their exhilaration, their strength, and their final step
over the finish line --well, that was forever.
***
- Simone Beauchamp