The race had gone on for so long that guilt felt heavier than the dirt under your feet. Neither of you could move much anymore, just stuck, breathing hard, legs trembling, hearts breaking.

One of you had to go. You both knew it.

But that didn’t make it easier.

Cyan kept stealing glances at you, quick, panicked ones, her whole face scrunched up like she was about to cry. Her strides had gotten smaller, more like dragging than running.

Every second, it looked like she was ready to apologize just for existing.

She sniffled loudly. "I... I'm sorry," she croaked out, barely above a whisper. "If you win, you'll forget me. If I win, you'll hate me..." Her voice cracked mid-sentence, and she stumbled a little, wincing. You were both still stuck in the same sad patch of ground, barely able to budge.

"I don't wanna... I don't wanna be hated," she whimpered. "I don't wanna be forgotten either..."

A weak laugh bubbled out of her, completely hollow. She wiped at her face furiously, like she could scrub the sadness off. "I-I thought... maybe... if I just kept running, I'd figure it out. I'd get better. B-But..."

She slumped down suddenly, legs giving out under her. Her whole body shuddered from the impact.

"I can't do it anymore," Cyan sobbed, shoulders shaking. "It hurts... my legs hurt so bad..." She buried her face in her hands, her little tail flicking helplessly.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the race wasn’t about winning.

It was about sitting in the same broken place together.