“You‘renotgoingtofreakout,areyou?“Rachelasked,concernetchedonherface.
Lucysighed,feelingaxofetionsbubblingupinsideher.“Idon‘tknow,“sheadtted.“IfeellikeI‘vebeenworkingsohardfornothing.“
Rachelnoddedsyathetically.“You‘rejustnotseeingthebiggerpicture,“shesaidgently.“Thisisn‘taboutwinningorlosing-it‘saboutlearningandgrowing.Andyouwill,Lucy.You‘llgetthereeventually.“
Butastheywalkedoutoftherooogether,Lucycouldn‘tshakeoffthefeelingthatsothingwasoff.Shehadalwaysbeentoldthathardworkanddedicationwouldpayoffintheend,butwhatifthatwasn‘ttrue?Whatifshejustwasn‘tgoodenough?
Astheywalkeddownthecorridor,Lucy‘sndbegantowander.Shethoughtaboutallthetisshehadstayeduplatestudying,pouringoverancienttextsandpracticingspellsuntilherhandsached.Shethoughtaboutthesacrificesshehadde-givingupsocialevents,skippingfalygatherings,evenabandoninghobbiesthatbroughtherjoy.
Andforwhat?Soshecouldendupinthisposition-stuckonthebottofthelist?
Asuddenrealizationhitherlikeatonofbricks.Itwasn‘taboutwinningorlosing;itwasaboutthejourneyitself.Thestruggles,thesetbacks,thedoubtsandfears-theywereallpartoftheprocess.
AsshelookedatRachel,Lucyfeltasparkofdeternationignitewithinher.Shewasgoingtotakethisntasanopportunitytolearn,togrow,andtoriseaboveherownlitations.Shewasgoingtoturnherfocusinward,exploringthedepthsofherownpotentialanddiscoveringnewwaystoharnessherpower.
Andbesides,shecouldn‘tjustsitaroundpingabout-whatwouldthatsaytoeveryoneelse?Thethoughtdeherlaughwryly,andasshewalkedintothecafeteriawithRachelbyherside,sheknewthatthiswasjustthebeginningofanewchapterinherlife.
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