A Girl Named Betsy

<p>My muscles clenched and my lungs ached but ahead of me I could see the spot where the bridge leveled. This too spurred me forward. A father and son gave me thumbs up; a woman fell into step beside me momentarily and cheered me on. Everything inside of me burned but I couldn’t stop smiling. <br />Finally I reached the pinnacle and the whole world spread out before me in one slow dazzling display. And then I knew I could finish this. It was mine.<br />A double-amputee passed me and he was flying on his running blades. We waved to each other acknowledging and saluting a thousand untold struggles. And that I realized was what we were all doing out there on the bridge: acknowledging a strength and solidarity that comes with living.</p>