And then—
Ten meters.
Eight.
Five.
Her foot landed beside his.
One more burst. One final leap of grit and fury and fire—
She crossed first.
It was barely a win, a photo finish where inches separated them.
But it was hers.
The whistle blew, sharp and definitive. The crowd screamed, a wave of exhilaration.
People jumped to their feet. Blue house erupted in a cacophony of shouts and cheers. Yes, they didn't like her, but they couldn't pretend that had not been phenomenal, especially since they all knew the young man who came second was an athlete.
Alice stumbled to a halt, chest heaving, lungs burning, heart racing like a stampede. Her vision blurred from the sweat stinging her eyes, but she stood. Breathless. Alive. Victorious.
Someone touched her back. It was her competitor who came second. He was trying to catch his breath too but you could hear the awe in his voice. "You won. You actually won—"
And for a second, for a heartbeat, she smiled.
