From Disgrace to State Champion

. My lane showed 12.11 seconds, a new personal best. I felt a

or lane five. Molly'

process them. Molly, my younger sister, who trained maybe once a week and spent mo

t of breath, a bright, fake

ere," she said, loud enough for our

was just holding back before. Didn' t want to hurt your feelings, y

ly on the back. "Incredible, Molly!

nnocent, wide-eyed look she had perfec

disappointed. "Sabrina, good effort. But you can' t let a

he congratulations from everyone. It wasn' t a competition. It

thick enough to choke on. My parents sat in the front, my da

lked through the

my mother said, not even bothering to take her coat off. "All tha

"Molly is a natural. She barely tries and she wins. You' r

burst into tears. "It' s my fault. I shouldn'

ediately rushe

fault," my mother cooed, stroki

," my father said, glaring a

more of it. The accusation

said, my voice shaking

he hall. I shut the door, the click of the latch feeling like the final lock on a cage. Leaning

From this house. And I knew, sitting there on the cold floor, that I had to tra