Solarballs- Breathless

Ganymede

Ganymede stepped onto the grass softly. He walked over to the track keeping his head mostly down. He didn't want to go to this competition, his mind was deeply fogged.

"Look who finally showed up, in time too. Go line up with the others." The coach said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Ganymede nodded.

Ganymede lined up at the start line. Ever since tryouts, he's been lacking in the department. "I'll show my coach." He looked up and he needed to clear his mind as well as the hurdles ahead.

Jupiter stood in the stands looking down at his phone for the most part. He was nervously texting Saturn about IO.

The other moons lined up. Titan was one of them. He and Ganymede had a competitive friendship but they supported one another harshly. A soft memory came back to Ganymede.
–

"Come on, you can do it!" Titan yelled. Ganymede was attempting to bench press a heavier weight that he hadn't before. Titan was spotting behind him. Ganymede dropped the bar and it hit the two studs that prevented Ganymede from getting hurt.

"Come on, Man," Titan said, crossing his arms and lifting the bar with the help of Ganymede. "You're bigger than me." Titan looked at him.

"Just because I'm bigger doesn't mean I'm stronger Titan." Ganymede grabbed the end of his tank top and wiped his face, before grabbing the bar once again. However, he quickly let go. "You telling yourself that is nonsense. You know you can lift this weight." Titan said.

Ganymede quickly grabbed the bar and struggled to lift it. Titan went back into the spotting position having his hands sort of near the bar. Ganymede managed to push the bar upwards and complete the set.

"I told you, you could do it," Titan said.

The memory quickly faded as he heard his coach blow the whistle. "Everyone stay lined up! You will start on the third whistle blow." Ganymede swallowed gently.

"You both know the rules as you've jumped hurdles before. I want to hear good sportsmanship as you go through this. Whoever wins and the last five contestants will move on to the next round." The coach yelled.

The coach blew the whistle two times before doing a long third.

Ganymede sprinted as fast as he could and jumped over the first hurdle, there were ten in total spread across the field. "I'll run.." Ganymede thought to himself, doing a sharp exhale.

"What do you mean he won't get better?" Callisto's voice echoed in his mind.

"It's a long term condition and we will have to learn about it and help him when he needs it." Jupiters voice was heard within his head.

"I'll run. I'll run mountains and marathons." Ganymede jumped over the next hurdle, hitting his heel against the end of it, making him slow down a bit. He shook off the pain as he kept his mind steady and clear.

"I'll run because you can't." He said within his thoughts.

"I'll run because you've always looked up to me."

Ganymede had never been able to tell IO that he was proud, though it was tough love within himself. Though every time he ran.. he thought about him. "I don't know why. I feel awful now that he can't run around like he used to. We used to play tag, now you can only watch from afar." Ganymede thought to himself as he looked up. He jumped the hurdle by just an inch.

"You've gotten so tired to the point you have deep eye bags under your eyes. I've never seen you like that before." Ganymede looked down.

Ganymede got distracted and almost fell over the hurdle, though he quickly jumped and the metal slashed his leg. Ganymede cursed under his breath as he felt his surface ooze. Ganymede started to get out of breath as he saw the last hurdle. Titan passed him as he tried to catch his breath. Ganymede gasped as he saw he was no longer in first. Though Titan quickly slowed down.