A time that I challenged myself...

 "Come home, at least for food?" 

"You HAVE AN INJURED SHOULDER, maybe give it a rest."

"It is 60 degrees outside, why do you want to swim in a pool that is even colder..."

Dialogues tailing me...all summer. From 8 AM to 7.30 PM. A shoulder injury didn't stop me, and my willpower didn't either, and why would they. I left a piece of my heart and soul at the pool, so I returned every day. For hours upon hours on end. Hours and hours. Splashes I made from kick only sets, because of my injured shoulder, From turns I tried to master even though I could barely raise my arm. My attempts to be my own physical therapist, trying to work through the pain that only got worse. For hours and hours upon hours at end. The first few times, I almost fainted. That didn't stop me. The next few months, my recurring injury chose to show up again. That didn't stop me either. No, because I needed to be better than before. Because I needed to prove to myself that I was something. And it took me hours and hours upon end. Hours upon hours upon hours. Just me, my thoughts, and my tears subsiding into the water as I swam. For hours upon hours. My parents telling me to come home. My friends Turing to make plans, telling me to skip practice. The universe trying to lead me away from the pool with my injury and making the weather too cold or too hot. Yet I still pushed. For hours upon hours upon hours. But why. Did I want to sound cool to my friends? Was it a pastime that also made me practice as a bonus? Was it just a want that had no explanation? No. No, no, no. It was a never ending challenge that I hopelessly tried to complete. Trying to be the best. Most perfect. Number 1. But no amount of training, advice, even magic could ever do that. There would always be a fraction or a large flaw keeping me, no, restraining me, from reaching this goal. But knowing this doesn't make me any less driven or any closer to giving up. I only try harder. For hours and hours.