"Finish Line" by Romulo S.

February 3^rd , 2013. This was the day I gave a shot into achieving my dream, to become a gold medalist in a 300m race. At the arena, I briefly looked at the shiny brilliant lustrous lights that radiated into the dark sky. I looked down the track in the direction of the finish line. My stomach grumbled like an eruptive volcano. “In lane 4, representing Central Valley School!,” the commentator announced to the crowded arena. “Smith, tipped to win the rice.” An intense roar exploded from the crowd like a pride of vicious lions. That pumped me up, ready to achieve my dream. After uncountable hours of practice, hard work and torture, and eating healthy, it all came down to this, the biggest event of my life, the 300 meter final. My hands were shaking. My throat was parched and a freezing sensation ran through my trembling body. I rose and observed as the last drop of sweat travel down my face. “This was it, one of my lifelong dreams coming true. I have to win this,” I thought.

“Athletes! Go to your starting position!,” the commentator announced. I got hold off my last anxious gulp of ice cold water, then walked up to the white starting line. I placed my feet into the starting blocks. I was ready. At that point, like disappearing impassable mist, all my anxiousness and fret appear to magically disappear. The fire in me lit that I had my fate right in front of my very own eyes. Suddenly, a tremendous silence took over the entire arena. The gun then was carefully lifted up and “BANG!.” It went off like a mortar shooting the dark blue sky. Vigorously, I raised my head as I reach my natural pace. Tramp, tramp, tramp on the jerky ground, my legs went. I believed it then. I believed that I had a shot for the Gold medal. This was my time. Sudden thoughts of the gold medal shining around my head. “I can do this, I’ll do it for my family, friends and for my dream.” My legs were working very well. My heart beat like a drum. My driving adrenaline stepped in. “I am nearly there at the finish line.. I can do it!.” But then the most unexpected thing happened. Something hit me, it was like there was a shark biting my leg clean off. It was my hamstring, I discovered. It was like my leg is a piece of paper torn into two. There was two choices I needed to choose. It's either “Should I carry on? Or “Should I lay here on the ground in agony?”....”What should I do?”

Petrified, shocked and frustrated, I fell onto ground in agony. The more I lay there in pain, the more I thought of giving up. My hamstring was hurting so much and do not know how I tore it. However, a thought came to me like a clash of lightning, "I have to get up for my fans and family. But what if I couldn't?" I tried to get up and it was successful but my leg was still in devastating pain. I thought about falling back down again. But it felt like If I fell down again, I can no longer get up.

Therefore, I kept on “running,” it was more like a quick limp. I looked determined, so determined to win. (Inside though, I was crying like a girl as sharp pain run through my hamstring.) My father, who means a lot to me, saw me struggling and he broke through the security and ran to my side. A loving smile came onto my face. He went to give me a hand. "You don't have to do this.", he said. But I knew I did. "Yes, I do", I replied because now inside, I was determined. "Well then, we are going to do this together." was his reply. We carried on for meters, passed the bright cameras, security and first aid. I did not need it. I was feeling delighted because I was with him.

My dream might have been crushed, but at least I know that I have been this far and already achieved a lot of achievements. As we reached the finish line, he let me carry on, on my own. This moment was mine and I was not going to waste it. As I passed the finish line, the crowd of 4,000 people stood up and gave me an uproaring cheer and clap.”I had done it!” I finished last but it did not matter to me. I did not need any award to prove myself. I did not need a gold, silver or bronze medal because I already had proven to them that I never gave up during the race.