Lost and Found • mikhaiah au

29. Beyond the Finish Line

The noise was deafening.

At first, all Agnes could hear was the roaring of the sea, the sound of crashing waves echoing in her ears like a distant storm.

She tried to reach out, but her hands felt heavy, weighed down by something unseen. Then, slowly, the sound began to change. The roar of the waves faded, replaced by the rhythmic pounding of feet and the dull roar of a crowd.

Agnes blinked, her eyes adjusting to the blinding light that surrounded her. The salty taste of seawater still lingered on her lips, but as she took in her surroundings, she realized she was no longer by the ocean.

She was in a gym, its air thick with the familiar scent of chlorine and excitement. The noise grew louder, filling her ears with the sound of cheers and applause. It took her a moment to register where she was: back at the championship.

The gymnasium was alive with energy, the bleachers packed with spectators leaning forward in anticipation, their faces alight with excitement.

Bright banners hung from the rafters, emblazoned with school colors and team logos, fluttering in the slight breeze from the ceiling fans.

The stands were packed with spectators leaning over the railings, their faces alive with anticipation.

The bright overhead lights reflected off the water, creating a shimmering mosaic of blues and greens on the ceiling. The pool stretched out before her, each lane a calm, clear path, contrasting sharply with the chaos of the sea she had just felt herself in.

Agnes felt a jolt of confusion. How did she get here? She looked down at herself and realized she was wearing her racing swimsuit, the fabric snug and familiar against her skin. She ran a hand over the smooth, water-resistant material, feeling the tautness that only came from years of wear and competitive use.

Her breath hitched as memories began flooding back—of countless races, the thrill of the competition, the focus before the starting whistle.

She was back where she belonged, back in the place that had always felt like home. The pool, where she first learned to conquer her fears, where she found peace in the rhythm of her strokes and the quiet beneath the water's surface.

"AGNES! AGNES!"

The roars of the crowd surged around Agnes, a tidal wave of excitement that should have been exhilarating, but her heart was not in the celebration.

She scanned the gym, searching for that one familiar face amidst the sea of people. The cheers grew louder, echoing off the gym walls, but she barely registered them.

Her eyes darted from one section to another, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone she desperately missed.

Despite the overwhelming energy of the championship, Agnes felt a growing emptiness, a void that the cheers and applause couldn't fill.

The vibrant banners and flashing lights did nothing to distract her from the pang of pain tightening in her chest. She could see her friends and teammates, their faces full of hope and pride, but the one person she needed to see was nowhere to be found. The absence felt like a chasm, deepening with each passing moment.

Just as Agnes adjusted her goggles, trying to shake off the distraction, thunderous screams erupted from the crowd. She glanced up, heart pounding, and saw the familiar figure making its way through the stands. Her breath caught as the realization dawned on her.

There, amidst the chaos of cheering fans, was the person she had been searching for. The presence she had longed to see more than anything. The figure walked steadily, cutting through the crowd with a purpose that drew everyone's eyes.