Go the Distance

She had dreamed for a long time of being a track star in the Olympics, and now it seemed as if her dream was ruined.

Shiloh Adlar
Writer, Ravenclaw

“I can do it,” Layla said as she pushed herself harder and harder to the finish line. It had been a while since she had last been allowed on the track, and now that she was back where she felt at home, she found that returning was more difficult than she ever imagined it could be.

Months before, Layla had been in a bad accident that caused her to potentially never be able to walk again. She had dreamed for a long time of being a track star in the Olympics, and now it seemed as if her dream was ruined. However, no matter what doctors told her, she was determined to fight back. She was determined to not give up and she told them that they were not allowed to give up on her.

So the months of therapy began when her body was healed enough to begin. Day after day she would work on moving her legs again. At one point, after weeks of trying, her faith began to falter. It was then that the doctor said to her that she was the one who told her to not give up, so she was going to push her until she got it. Layla smiled at the memory before nodding and trying again. Not long after, she wiggled her toes.

Soon enough, she was up on the machines, strengthening her muscles slowly and carefully until she was able to do it without support. The therapists and doctors were shocked by her progress and recovery and when she was released, Layla knew the first place she wanted to go.

It was not at full power, no, but she was walking the entirety of the track and she would do so everyday until eventually she was running again, faster than the wind. She felt her legs weaken and want to give out, but her mind, her thoughts moved her forward, her dreams told her legs, just a little further.

When she crossed the line, it was not pain that crossed her features but a smile of proving to herself that if she could do this, then she could do anything. She knew she still had a lot of work to do to get back into the shape she once was, but she would go the distance and one day clasp the gold medal closely to her heart.