Page 25 of Salto

I’d just had one of the best meets of my college career. My family was here, and my teammates were celebrating. Everything I was supposed to want was right in front of me.

So why did it still feel like something was missing?

“I’m not asking you to be reckless.”

Rove’s words echoed through my mind.

“Let me teach you.”

I thought about everything my family had poured into this dream. The extra hours they worked to put me through gymnastics as a kid. The weekends they'd spent at competitions. The way they'd stood by me through every setback with my health.

And suddenly, painfully, I wanted this for them too.

For the first time in years, I let myself imagine it.

Not a college meet, but the Olympics.

The thought hit so hard it stole the breath from my lungs.

Somewhere along the way, I’d convinced myself I’d stopped wanting the dream.

But standing there in the arena, with my family cheering and Rove’s words echoing through my head…

I realized I hadn’t stopped wanting it at all.

A few hours later, I stood in the parking lot outside an Italian restaurant, waving as my parents and Jamie climbed into the car.

“Drive safe,” Mom called through the open window.

Dad leaned across the center console. “Good meet today, kiddo.”

“Thanks for coming.”

“We’re proud of you,” Mom added.

I smiled. “Love you guys.”

I leaned closer to the open window to call to Jamie in the back seat.

“It was good to see you, J.”

She mumbled something I couldn’t make out, and I rolled my eyes.

My mom gave me an exasperated smile. “See you later, honey.”

The windows rolled up, and I watched their taillights disappear into the evening traffic.

Then my phone buzzed in my hand.

It was Laney.

I answered on the second ring. “Hey.”

“Oh my gosh, where are you?” Laney shouted, music thumping faintly in the background. “Don’t tell me you went home.”

I huffed a quiet laugh, starting toward my car. “Relax. I just finished dinner with my parents.”

“Well, are you coming to the party or not?” she shot back.