My Own Melody
Locations
“I want to be a runner”
I tell myself
But on the first day of practice-
I’m wearing shoes I’ve had since the 6th grade
Basketball shorts that bunch up in the front
I don’t even own a sports bra
So I wore a camisole under my t-shirt
“I am a runner”
I try to convince myself
It is a silent motivation
An internal fire, safely hidden and tended by the heart
Because I am scared others will stomp it out
Although I am on the low rung of the JV track team
They do not know
I have a heart that soars to the skies
And races the stars
They do not know of
My invisible stride that reaches to the moon
While I trail behind all the other runners
“You are a runner”
My heart sings to me
The gun shoots and the melody begins
In tune with my footsteps,
It is a familiar song to my lungs and legs
My eyes are fixed on the girl in front of me
Stride for stride we skip across the track
Like two gazelles in their home habitat
She picks up speed
I am right behind
With two laps remaining,
I take the lead
Now I march to my own melody
Today I am the sub 12 minute two miler