• I had to clear my mind and drown out the cheering; cheering for everyone but myself. Who would want the “doped” up boy to win? I wouldn’t. I looked up into the stands. They were filled with people, people I didn’t even know. My heart was pounding as my eyes meet my mother's. She looked at me with a scowl, something that has become normal for me.
    What kind of son was I? Who wouldn’t do what his mother wanted? Especially one that everyone thought was on drugs and “high” every day. They didn’t even know me, but I didn’t stop their thinking either. I flashed a cocky smile at her, a little sign that I wasn’t about to shy out and become her little puppet again. I didn’t want what she planned for me and I was finally standing up for myself. Running in this track meet was me saying I was done with her.
    Looking back at the track, I got into position ready for the half mile run. My vision narrowed to the path before me and the noise dulled to a mere buzz. My heart pounded against my rib cage, wanting to burst out. This was it, this is what I wanted. To show everyone that I was something more than what they thought. I was not a druggy waiting for my next high, I was not my mother's little child who needed help with everything. I am my own person, and my name was Michael.