Chapter 2 The Weight of Expectations

Ethan Carter had barely caught his breath from the victory when his father pulled him aside. The echoes of cheering fans still rang in his ears, but here, in the quiet hallway outside the locker room, all that faded under the sharp intensity of Richard Carter's gaze.

"That was good," his father said, arms crossed. "But you could've been faster out of the blocks. You hesitated for a fraction of a second."

Ethan clenched his jaw. He had set a state record-was that not enough?

"I won," Ethan said, his voice even.

Richard sighed. "Winning isn't enough, Ethan. You need to dominate. You've got scouts watching you now, and the last thing you want is to show any weakness."

Ethan looked away. He had spent his entire life trying to meet his father's expectations, and still, it never seemed enough.

Coach Reynolds appeared in the hallway, cutting the conversation short. "Ethan, great job today. Rest up-big practice on Monday."

Ethan nodded, grateful for the escape.

As he left the stadium, the excitement of his victory already felt distant.

A Life Built Around Success

Monday morning, Ethan was back on the track, pushing himself harder than ever.

Sprinting. Weight training. Agility drills.

Every session was designed to keep him ahead of the competition. But the harder he trained, the more pressure he felt.

His father was at every practice, standing by the sidelines, watching, analyzing.

"Faster, Ethan!" Richard called out as Ethan sprinted across the field. "You can shave another tenth of a second off your time!"

Ethan gritted his teeth and pushed harder. He had to be perfect. There was no other option.

As practice wrapped up, Jake jogged over, slapping Ethan on the back. "Man, you're a machine. You ever take a break?"

Ethan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "No time for breaks. I've got too much riding on this."

Jake frowned. "Dude, you're already the best. What more do you need to prove?"

Ethan forced a laugh. "Everything."

He didn't say it out loud, but deep down, he knew the truth-if he stopped winning, who would he even be?

Balancing School, Family, and Pressure

Ethan barely had time for schoolwork. His mind was always on training, sponsorship opportunities, and upcoming meets.

During dinner, his mother tried to talk about his upcoming exams.

"You need to keep your grades up, Ethan," she said. "College recruiters look at academics too."

Richard scoffed. "His talent will take care of that. No coach is going to pass up a runner like him because of a math test."

Ethan smirked. "Exactly."

Melissa sighed but didn't argue.

Ethan's younger brother, Lucas, looked up at him with admiration. "I wanna be fast like you, Ethan!"

Ethan ruffled his hair. "You will be, buddy."

But as Lucas beamed, Ethan felt the pressure settle deeper in his chest. He wasn't just carrying his own dreams-he was carrying his family's, too.

Doubts Beneath the Surface

That night, as Ethan lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, doubts crept in.

What if I lose? What if I get injured? What if I'm not as good as everyone thinks I am?

He shoved the thoughts away. He couldn't afford to think like that.

He was Ethan Carter. The fastest sprinter in the state. The future star.

He had no choice but to keep running.