Sloane
I win first place at the Cave Hills Cross Country Invitational and jog it off to cool down before I go back to cheer on my teammates. It’s past dinnertime, and my stomach’s starting to complain as the sunset paints the craggy rocks of Wolf Ridge pink and purple.
This is my favorite time of day in Arizona. There’s nothing like the way the mountain glows.
The peace isn’t real, though. I always have that sense of stealing the moment. Like I don’t deserve to enjoy sunsets or mountains or anything about my life in Arizona.
The meet finally ends, and we filter down to the locker rooms, everyone dragging a*s now. I see the large figure leaning up against the building, but he doesn’t set off any flares of warning. He’s not one of the guidos sent to rough me up—I’m expecting them in a co
