NIRVANA

“I can’t. I can’t do it anymore.” I could barely catch my breath. I had never been exhausted like this in my entire life, but today I felt it. My lungs were about to collapse. My heart pumped so hard I felt like it would explode in my chest.

I bent, my hands on my knees, breathing hard. “Mac, please? Can we just take a break for five minutes?”

“No. You’re still not fast enough.” He looked down at his stopwatch. I didn’t even see a hint of sympathy in his eyes. ...