My Own Path to Greatness

I've always been half a beat behind everyone else. But my childhood friend Charles and my best friend Annie always seemed to grow faster than me. After every training session, they'd be the first to pack up and leave. I'd still be sorting my gear, piece by piece. Once, we had a moonlit hunt training together. I fell into a trap and screamed for help, but they were long gone. On the day we submitted our Shifter Academy applications, they filled out their forms and left. I was still double-checking my last entry. "Lilith, you're way too slow. I still have to go with Annie to pick up Moon Festival admission passes. We're leaving. Not waiting." "Annie and I are both applying to Silver Moon Academy. Make sure you put that one down too. That way we can all keep training together." Charles said his piece. Annie hooked her arm through his, and they hurried off. They were in too much of a rush to hear the words I said behind them, so quiet the wind nearly swallowed them. "I'm not applying to Silver Moon Academy." I watched their figures shrink into the distance. For the first time, I didn't chase after them. "From now on, you never have to wait for me again."