WINNER

Bryan was an aspiring road-racing cyclist, after competing in several races and winning many medals, he was finally at the national cycling championship event. Adding to his excitement, his inspiration and idol, Jerome Jenson was also attending the event, and was also honoring the first three winners. Bryan determined to win, he wanted to receive the gold medal and title from his idol and inspiration. As the race began, he got into an extreme tension, he was pressuring himself to pedal faster; and so in little time he was way past ahead of others except one racer. He was cycling really good, and getting past him seemed impossible. Bryan was getting tensed as the finish line neared, deep within him, he was hankering for victory, he wouldn't be content with silver, he's got to win the gold, he made a resolute within himself. Slowly he picked speed, he was near behind the racer when he got that thought; not giving a second thought, he did it. Speeding up a little more, he got more nearer the racer, stretched his leg and kicked on the back wheel, the racer lost control, to ensure the fall, Bryan delivered yet another blow. The racer was down; not looking back Bryan pedaled towards victory. The finish line came into view, Bryan beamed with happiness, his happiness knew no limits. Not looking back, he raced into the stadium with hundreds of people watching out for the winner. As he crossed the line, he was ecstatic at the ovation the crowd gave him; he went towards the volunteers who provided him with hospitality. Once the others, too had come, Bryan rose from his seat, prepared to receive the title and honors awaiting him, especially his 'fan-boy moment'. He looked up to the rostrum and didn't find Jerome, he became tensed, he looked around, Jerome was nowhere to be found; when he asked one of the volunteers, the guy said that Jerome left due to a personal emergency; Bryan asked further and the volunteer told him that Jerome's son was also participating in the race but met with a serious accident and Jerome had to go along as the child had had only his father. Bryan was grief stricken, had he accepted the way fate was leading him, he'd have at least got a silver from Jerome, he thought to himself.

"Never let your persistence and passion turn into stubbornness & ignorance." [Anthony D'Angelo]