Page 114 of Catch
“Hold your core,” Felix directs us. “Legs on, legs on.”
Our coxswain urges us to drive with more intensity and we’re doing it, pushing hard. My quads burn and my back aches, and I lean into the pain. The air runs cool over my skin,the spray of water a welcome relief as I push and pull, back and forth, over and over.
“Work the middle. Work it.”
Then it happens—the moment everything syncs. The crew hits its collective rhythm, eight bodies moving in absolute unison. The boat surges, smooth and powerful, and the rush is undeniable. This is what we race for, the fleeting perfection of our sport. It’s fucking incredible, and hard to beat. It makes every ounce of pain and sweat worthwhile.
But the race isn’t over yet.
With each stroke, I’m ramping up, pushing harder, guiding my crew to do the same.
“Push through,” Felix encourages. “Looking good.”
He signals when we pass the halfway mark, but there’s no letting up now. I’m grunting louder and pushing strong with each stroke, and so are my teammates. We all want this win badly.
“That’s it, push through. Push through!”
We’re racing at a clip that feels faster than any of our previous regattas. There’s so little resistance it’s like my oar is slicing through butter instead of water. It’s my adrenaline talking, but I don’t question it. The faster we go, the harder we drive. I feel like I’m on top of the fucking world.
“Take it!” Felix calls out, and the excitement in his voice is undeniable. “Take it!”
We’re getting close to the end. So close.
Fuck, I don’t want to win this race; I want to annihilate our previous record.
“Finish strong,” Felix commands.
Almost there, almost there…
I’m giving it my all as I make every stroke count. I can hear students cheering in the distance. Even though Ethan isn’t watching, I can picture him clearly in my head—his smile, his voice. It gives me that last-minute boost, propelling me to drive as hard as I can.
“We got this!” Felix calls out. “Last two. Last two! Make them count.”
Only a couple more strokes and the race is over.
Can we do it?
It has to be enough because every inch of my body is throbbing with strain.
“It’s ours,” Felix encourages. “It’s ours!”
My lungs burn and my eyes water as I make my final stroke.
“We did it! Let it run, guys, let it run!”
It’s a painfully exquisite relief to pull our oars out of the water, and we begin to drift. Fucking hell, that was the most exciting race of my life.
“We won!” Archie shouts behind me.
I’m gasping for air, and finally allow my gaze to drift around the lake. Lin’s in his nearby boat smiling and waving at us.
We really did it. Holy shit.
My vision goes blurry, and I realize I’m crying. Felix puts his hand in the water and splashes us in celebration. Lake water mixes with my tears and sweat, and I turn my head to look back at my crew.
We’re all the same—smiling ear to ear, wet, emotional, ecstatic.
“I think we set a new college record,” Felix announces. “You guys were fire!”
