| 26 Miles by Virginia Moffatt |
One… You move off from the start, taking it easy, wanting to pace yourself for the journey ahead. You have to get the breathing right, make sure you don’t put too much pressure on yourself too early. There’s a long way to go. …two, three… That’s it. You’re getting the hang of it now. Each movement forward you are making progress. Every breath fills your lungs with the energy to continue. This is easy. You’re doing fine. …four, five, six… Nearly a quarter of the way, and your legs are beginning to feel it. Your lips are dry. Your energy flags. You reach for something to drink. The sweet liquid runs down your throat, and you feel a moment of nausea. “You can do it, “ Jo calls, giving you the strength to carry on. …twelve…thirteen…You are almost at the halfway point. Your feet feel swollen, your calves ache, your thigh muscles are taut. You grit your teeth. Drink some more. Try to ignore the pain in your stomach. Move on. Move on. …eighteen…nineteen…The ball of your foot screams each time you place it in front of you. You are shaking with lack of sugar. Your body drips with sweat, yet you have an urgent need to relieve your bladder. “You’re doing well,” Jo’s smile is enough to propel you forward. …twenty two…twenty three…Each breath stabs your lungs. Muscles you didn’t know you had scream at you to stop…twenty four…You are so close, but still so far…twenty five…Just one more to go. Breathe in, breathe out. Best foot forward. Don’t care if it hurts, just care about getting to the end. “Nearly there. Come on, Come on.” Jo urges you on. …twenty six…You collapse at the end of the rail. Jo rushes your wheelchair towards you. “Brilliant, brilliant,” she is crying, “twice what you managed yesterday." Once you ran Marathons. One day, perhaps, you will again. © Virginia Moffatt All Rights Reserved www.millionstories.net |
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The
Challenge!
Prompt #16 Apr 18th 2011
Challenge!
Prompt #16 Apr 18th 2011
| 52 Shorts |
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Project is set up as a safe place for authors to present their work in order to reach a wider readership. We want writers to be happy here. (Awww) The Project is run by writers and very voracious readers excited by the
potential for creativity that the form begets. And you might even see one or two of ours on here from time to time too.
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