I never got to run on this track in college
That angers me
I got to run on it now
But that didn’t lessen the pain at all
At first I pretended it didn’t hurt
But really it made it hurt even more
It made me face the facts
And in doing so I felt helpless
Because my opportunity has passed
I will never compete on that track in college
I was not worthy then and so I never will be
But to whom?
In whose eyes was I trying to validate my worthiness?
And for what?
What was I trying to prove?
Those are the questions I’m asking now

Running Across the Country: Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA