ARIANA
“Again!”
My mom’s voice echoed across the training field for the third time that morning. My arms were already shaking, and sweat had soaked through the shirt she gave me. It wasn’t even that sunny, but my whole body felt like I had just been thrown into a river and pulled out to fight a bear.
I dropped the stick sword again, panting. “I can’t do this,” I mumbled under my breath, falling to my knees.
“You can,” she said, walking over to me. She didn’t look tired at all. Not even a little sweat on her. Just calm and serious. She knelt down beside me and placed her hand on my shoulder. “You’re doing better than your first day. Trust me.”
I stared at the ground. “But I still suck.”
She chuckled softly, brushing some hair away from my face. “Ari, when I was your age, I was worse.
