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9. So close yet so far
September 2026,
Imporia, Soare-Luna Kingdom
Alyanna
I wiped the steam from the bathroom mirror and looked at myself.
Looking at myself every morning felt like a battle. I had to gather courage before I did it. Today, it felt particularly difficult. I felt empty. A shell of my old self.
For the longest time, I thought I would grow up to become a professional athlete. A sprinter. It was my dream to participate in the Olympics and win. I had come close. So fucking close.
But one accident ruined it all.
That dream of mine was stolen from me. And now, it would always remain just that. A dream.
It always hit harder after a long, hard run. Andrei made me train especially hard today. He knew that I took it easy when I wasn't at the palace, and this was his way of getting me to make up for it. I could barely finish one mile and my leg started aching. It made me feel path
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