Home at Last.
I stepped onto the plate, bat in hand, with a knotted throat.
My stomach was doing flips on itself. I reluctantly gripped my trusted bat with both my hands. Sweat began to form from the pores of my palms. My heart started beating faster and faster, while locking eyes with the pitcher. I felt a tingling sensation running down my spine.
I was prey, fighting for my life against this apex predator. Three strikes, and my dream of winning this baseball match was over.
Before I could compose myself fully, a wild rush of wind swooshed past my face.
« Strike one! » the umpire shouted.
Just like that, in the blink of an eye, my dream started to fall apart. Hope was leaving me, only to be replaced with despair. Next time, I wouldn’t be caught off guard.
Closely watching the pitcher releasing the ball, I waited for the perfect opportunity to swing, but I missed. I missed, I missed, I missed. This phrase was glued in my head, with no way out. The last pitch was going to decide my fate.
Yet again, but this time for the last, the pitcher brought the ball up above his head, and then Pow! released it with all his strength .
Waiting for the perfect moment, I struck the ball with all my might.
Thwack!
The ball flew all the way out field, not being caught by anyone. I ran with everything I had. First base flew by, then second soon followed.
Looking behind me, I saw that no one managed to reach the ball. I kept running and running, but suddenly, as soon as I reached third base, the ball was thrown like a rocket by a fielder that had almost reached the pitcher’s glove. This final sprint towards homebase meant everything.
The pitcher turned and threw the ball to the catcher. Dust followed my every explosive step. The air crashed itself upon my face.
Just before the catcher caught it, I slid with every last bit of force left in my body. A massive dust cloud arose enveloped both me and the catcher. The air was filled with tension. Everyone waited in awe to see what the umpire had to say.
« SAFE! »