sports’ day.

For the umpteenth time, he’d fallen just short. His legs were just that bit shorter, that bit chubbier, and that bit weaker than the rest. He had, of course, run with all his might and will power – his arms flailing beside him as he tried to woo the audience. Yet all he could see were the backs of the heads of his fellow competitors. And try as he might, he just couldn’t muster up the speed to close the gap – they were getting further and further ahead, whilst he was beginning to flag. 

Tears began to well up in his eyes. He knew that this was a losing race. Only the fastest; the most skilled; the most beautiful would ever win at this game, and he was none of those. The droplets of liquid rolled down his face as he watched the others finish, their arms outstretched to meet the welcome of their prize. 

He stopped.

His breath was haggard. And in staccato. 

He dropped to his knees.

“That’s it.”

He was finished. It was over.

“I give up.”

And so the rain began to fall.