Rocky Mountain Pack Shorts

There’s always been something about me that’s hard to explain, and people often notice. I’m eighteen, short at five foot four, but quick on my feet. I’m faster than most. It’s like I was built for the chase, always moving, always reaching for something just out of sight. I’ve had a pretty amazing life, though I never really thought of it that way until recently. I was left as a baby in a basket on the steps of St. John’s Church, right in front of its doors, abandoned on a cold winter's night. My parents, Carol and Jim, found me there. They didn’t know who had left me or why. All they knew was that they took it as a sign from God, that they were meant to take me in and raise me as their own. They’ve been everything to me since that moment. They’ve always loved me with all their hearts, never holding back. They gave me everything I could ever ask for. There was never a day I felt unloved. In fact, they’ve been my biggest supporters. My mom never missed one of my races. My dad was always cheering me on, even when I was just running for fun as a little kid. When I was younger, I didn’t really think much about my past. I knew I was adopted, and I knew I was loved. But as I got older, I started to wonder: why did my biological parents leave me? Was I not enough for them? If that was the case, I’m glad they left me on those church steps all those years ago. Track has always been where I felt most alive. Despite my short stature, my speed was my secret weapon. By the time high school came around, I had already started making a name for myself on the track team. By my junior year, I was one of the top sprinters in the state, and with that came the chance of a college scholarship. My coach, Mr Sturges, told me I had the potential to break records, which was something I never thought possible for someone like me. "Aleksa, you have a gift. You’re going to go far!" he’d always say after practice, a huge grin on his face. My friends all knew that track was my thing. They could see my commitment, my drive. I balanced my studies, my friends, and track with ease, though I always made sure to stay grounded. I didn’t let it get to my head. After all, I was just Aleksa, the girl who was found in a basket. But lately, with college just around the corner, I felt the pressure building. The scholarship offers were coming in, and I knew I needed to give my all if I wanted to go to my dream school – UO. The University of Oregon's track program was among the most prestigious in the nation. The night before Regionals, the most important race of the year, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The pressure was almost unbearable. Tomorrow could decide everything. A win would mean a ticket to UO. Whereas a loss would mean starting over, finding another path. I knew I had to give it my all. But there, in the quiet of my room, I found myself thinking about something I’d avoided for a long time; my past. That same old question lingered, why had my birth parents left me? Were they out there, somewhere, wondering about me? Who were they? I knew it was probably pointless to wonder, but I couldn’t help it. It was only natural to wonder why or what could have been. It was then that my parents knocked on my door. My dad entered first, with a warm smile. "I hope you’re not stressing too much about tomorrow." I shook my head. "I don’t know, Dad. It’s just... It’s a lot. What if I don’t win? What if I let everyone down? What if all of this hard work was for nothing?" He sat beside me, his hand resting on mine. "Aleksa. You’ve always done your best, and that’s all that matters. We believe in you, no matter what happens tomorrow. We are proud of you." Tears welled up in my eyes, and I smiled. "I love you and Mom so much. You know that, right?" "We love you too, sweetheart," my mom said from the doorway. "And Aleksa," my dad added, "your past doesn’t define you. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be with us." I felt my heart swell with emotion. I’d never needed to hear anything more. I had everything I needed right there. While my future might be uncertain, I knew one thing for sure: I wasn’t alone. *** The next day, when I lined up at the starting line for Regionals, everything else faded away. The nervousness, the doubts, they all disappeared the moment the gun fired. I was free, my legs pushed me forward, the wind was in my face, and I focused only on the finish line. I had no idea how much time had passed, but when I crossed it, I heard the cheers. And I knew I’d done it. And a little while later, I was standing on the podium, with my gold medal in hand. I had earned my place. My future lay before me, and no matter where I ran, no matter where life took me, I would always have my parents' love. I had everything I needed. The day was just getting started, though, because tonight was prom night. My final prom at high school. I knew it was going to be a night to remember. I didn’t even care that I wasn’t going with a guy. Most of my friends had dates, but I wasn’t bothered. The truth was, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go with anyone anyway. I had bigger things to worry about, like making sure my best friend, Emma, had a night she wouldn’t forget. She’d just broken up with her boyfriend, Ryan. It had been a messy breakup, leaving her heartbroken and a little lost. She had been looking forward to prom, but after everything that happened, I knew she wasn’t going to want to go alone. So, I decided to go with her, not as a date but as her partner in crime, her best friend who would stick by her side through it all. The look of surprise and relief on her face when I suggested it was worth everything. She’d smiled through her tears. “You’re the best,” she said. We both had our dresses made by this lady from church. Hers was this soft dusty rose color, kind of like something you'd see in a bridal magazine. Mine was a deep navy blue with gold accents that sparkled in the light. When we met up at her house to get ready, I could tell she was excited. We’d spent hours getting our hair done, playing our favorite music, and taking lots of photos. “Ready for the best prom ever?” I asked her as I adjusted my gold hoop earrings in the mirror. “Only because you’re with me. Thank you so much for this, Aleksa,” she said with teary eyes. 3333333“Always Emma. Best friends forever!” I said, as I wrapped her in a hug.