A BRIEF MORNING RAIN woke Kaelyn at first light. She climbed out of bed, showered, and dressed. Butterflies gathered in her stomach as she ran through the course of the day. She wouldn’t see Chord until after the race. The men’s race was first, at mid-morning. The women’s race was immediately after the men’s award ceremony.
Footsteps in the hallway headed toward the living area. Her mother was up. Kaelyn braided her hair in a high ponytail and headed after her. Fruit, steaming vegetables, and hot drinks sat next to the table. Kaelyn helped herself to a generous portion, but avoided any of the stimulant drinks. She needed to hydrate, and the stimulants would only wear off right around the time the race would begin.
After they’d finished eating, Miras swept Kaelyn off to the race in a smal
