“Ready….Set….”
I turned for a milli-second and glanced at my wife who was cheering me. I wanted to win this 400-meter gold medal for her. She had been by my side since the sixth grade egging me on and not missing one race of mine ever. I wanted to run all my life with her by my side.
I heard the word “Go” and shot out from my position and on to the track. My heart was pumping hard, and my legs were in perfect sync. I was pushing my muscles to the limit. As I turned the first one hundred meters I realised I was in the lead and resolved that I would run this race as if this is the last race of my life.
As I crossed the two-hundred-meter mark I knew I was running the best race of my life. Is this the most perfect race ever? I thought to myself. As I completed the 300-meter mark and turned towards the last one hundred meters, I couldn’t hear my competitors behind me. Was I in such a lead? Was I running or flying? Then I realised I couldn’t hear the roar of the crowd. I looked around and realised the entire stadium was empty.
It can’t be. It can’t be. I told myself. I shut my eyes tight once and opened it. Beep Beep Beep, is all I heard. I looked around. I was at a hospital and could hear the beeping and humming of the machines. My head ached and I couldn’t lift my hand much. I closed my eyes and opened again and could see a little clearly. Someone rang a bell, and doctors and nurses came running inside.
2 months later, I had recuperated a little and was able to walk. The worst two months of my life. I came to know from my friends that I had swooned on the track that race day during the last one hundred meters and had never woken up again for twenty years. I had been in a coma for twenty years straight. My wife had never left my side during that time and had done all she could to get me back. She strongly believed I would come back one day.
I was back at the stadium today. I was going to complete my race for her. I had to run seventy more meters to complete it, and I was determined to do it for her. I couldn’t run. I walked slow but determined. My friends egged me on. My wife was waiting at the finish line to meet me. I crossed the finish line to a big round of cheer from friends and family. I turned to look at my wife and smiled at the urn containing her ashes.
“I finally finished the perfect race, but I am sorry it took 20 long years. This one is for you, my love,” I said holding the urn close to me.
