The Boy Who Gave Up the Race to Save His Rival

but the wind took it away.

Marcus did not look back.

By mile eighteen, his legs were hurting.

By mile twenty, they were burning.

By mile twenty-two, pain had become a room he was living inside.

But he was still moving.

Still breathing.

Still climbing.

Then he saw Madison.

She was ahead by maybe forty yards.

Her cadence was still clean, but something was off.continue reading …