A short story
Photo by Joshua Burdick on Unsplash
Like we look to others for guidance, others look to us for the same assistance. We may regard ourselves as mere students, while others may see us as worthy teachers. We should always keep shining our brightest because this is how what we seek will eventually find us. — Henery X
Running My Life
2022, Henery X ©
The second seventeen-year-old Kori Jefferson discovered how to walk was the minute she never stopped running. I mean, she literally ran almost everywhere she needed to be. So, it was no surprise to all who knew her well that she became a track and field super star.
Summer, 2019
Fourteen-year-old Kori had been just a burst of raw speed, until she met her middle school coach, Annie Patterson. Thirty-year-old Annie was a well-known track and field super star throughout high school and college. No one would have guessed she’d turn down an opportunity to go to the Olympics, to become a high school coach.
Kori and Annie were on the high school track. They had been here for four hours, both not regretting one second of their time spent together. Though their relationship was a sisterly one, the younger of the two respected her elder to the utmost. They were both dressed in running apparel.
“How are you feeling, Sissy?” Annie said. She addressed Kori in the manner she did only when they were alone.
“I’m feeling stupendous, Sis'.” Like with Annie, Kori only addressed Annie in the manner she did when they were alone.
“Excellent. I want us to practice for at least another hour.”
“Sounds good to me. You already know I love to work,” Kori said cheerfully.
Annie chuckled, “Indeed I do, Sissy.”
“So, on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the highest. How would you rate my overall performance?” Kori stared at Annie intensely.
“I’d say nine and a half.”
“Really! Wow!”
“The only reason I didn’t give you a ten is because there’s always room for improvement. When you came here, your speed was a thing of beauty. But you lacked any type of structure. I saw so much potential in you. I saw so much of me in you. And I loved you the moment after I asked you to do something and you did it, without questions. Your eagerness to learn let me know you were going to be greater than you’ve ever imagined.”
“Aww, Sis’. I love you. You are so generous with your wisdom and time. You want us all to be our best. And I respected you more when I heard you turned down a chance to appear at the Olympics, to come coach us. Have you ever regretted that decision?”
“Never, Sissy. For me, some things just matter more than others. To help young women live their dreams, as well as to enlighten them on what it means to be a woman... priceless.”
“I love you, Annie.”
“I love you as well, Kori. Now, let’s get back to work.”
"Yes, Ma'am," Kori said enthusiastically.
Summer, 2022
Kori decided she was going to take part in three events: the hundred meter sprint, the four hundred meter sprint, and the four by four hundred meter relay. She had everything it took to make such a decision, a no brainer. When she shared this news with Annie, she agreed with her decision without hesitation.
Kori and her teammates were about to take part in the last event of the day, which was the four by four hundred meter relay. She had already dominated in the other two events she ran in. Now, it was time for her and her friends to do what they loved. She would run the anchor leg, which was unanimously agreed upon by her teammates.
Once the baton was secured in Kori’s hand, the lead of one of the other runners had quickly become a distant memory. Her speed and technique were a thing of beauty. She appeared to be flawless in her execution. When she crossed the finish line, there was no one remotely close to her.
She and her teammates were celebrating their victory, with their proud coach, Annie Patterson, right amid it all.
The end
What are you willing to sacrifice to live your dreams? If it’s not everything that has nothing to do with the journey, then your dreams will more than likely remain just that… dreams.
This is the sixth of ten short stories I’m writing and that will make up a book meant to inspire the inner child in us all. The main characters will all be under the age of eighteen, showing that there’s no age requirement when it comes to living dreams. I want the stories of these youngsters to encourage the elders who happen to read them because again, there’s no age requirement when it comes to living dreams.
Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge my offering.
Remember. I’m not here to convince you to believe. I’m here to offer you something else to consider.
May we never lose our desire to outdo what we’ve already done.
Peace, Love, and the utmost Respect.