But my son didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, you can. We finish this together,” Brennan apparently responded.
Before anyone could react, Brennan bent down, helped Caleb up, and lifted him onto his shoulders.
There was a moment, just a second, where it looked impossible.
Then my son adjusted his stance and started running the last stretch!
“We finish this together.”
He wasn’t as fast as before, but he was steady and determined despite how slow and painful it was.
The crowd gasped as Caleb clung to him tightly.
I heard someone behind me say, “He’s throwing it away.”
But instead, the other runners slowed.
One by one, they stopped and stepped aside.
No one passed Caleb and Brennan.
“He’s throwing it away.”
Caleb, his face pressed against Brennan’s shoulder, started laughing through tears.
Dana covered her mouth, shaking beside me.
By the time the two boys reached the finish line, the entire stadium was on its feet!
Not cheering for a winner, but for something else.
Brennan and Caleb crossed together before the former lowered the latter gently.
The noise hit all at once!
Applause. Shouting. People standing.
I didn’t even realize I was crying until Dana pulled me into a hug.
The entire stadium was on its feet!
The officials gathered near the track.
There was confusion at first; then, after a quick discussion, one of the judges stepped forward with a microphone.
