Poem: A Narrative Fiction

“10...9...8...7...6...5...Boom” When I heard the gun shoot across the air, I knew it was time to abandon the starting line and begin the course. I already wasn’t feeling ready for this. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I kept pushing my way up the grassy hill. By the time I made it halfway, I could hardly breathe. I knew that it was just the beginning. I couldn’t stop now. Unfortunately for me, my body didn’t feel the same way, I stumbled through the rest of the hill as the land transitioned over from grass to gravel and I started to slow down. In a daze I looked up at the sky, it was a light gray, there were no clouds in sight, and the leaves were just starting to change color on the trees. I could see a blur rush past me. I jumped

When I finally get myself back together, I can see one last girl heading towards me through the trees “This is my chance”, I think as I push up off the rocky ground and continue forward, the motivation of finally not being in last place taking over all the other thoughts that were once filling my mind. I finally get through the woods and can see the last part of the course straight ahead of me, I spot my family in the crowd cheering me on. For the first time, I actually begin to believe in myself, “You can do this, just keep running!” my brain screams. I run as hard and as fast as I possibly can. Knowing it’s too late to catch up to everyone else, I focus on the one last girl that staggers behind

“Oh, sorry was I interrupting something?” my mom asks us.

Haze, as usual, is the first to speak. “No. Actually, Mrs. Falls, you were just in time to see Trevor, Mr. I’m “usually” right.”

Mom smiles and pulls out her camera, “That’s great! Would you girls and “Mr. I’m usually right” like to have a picture taken of the 3 of you together?” Mom gets all 3 of us together over by a tree that’s nearby. With Trevor on the left, Haze on the right, and me right in the middle of them. We all smile a cheesy, laughing smile, and mom snaps the picture. “Okay guys, that was a great picture. I’ll be over there by the gate.” “Sounds good, thanks mom,” I say as she begins to walk away, Haze and Trevor say goodbye to her too.

I now turn to face Haze and Trevor, “Well Haze, I guess you were right all along, I should’ve been believing in myself.”

Haze shrugs her shoulders, and puts on a sincere smile, “Actually Wes, I was never right, you wouldn’t have completed that race like you did if you hadn’t been believing in yourself the whole time you’ve been running. I think you just needed this race to show your determination and prove to yourself that you did believe and that it was possible for you to do