28. Chapter 28
Chapter 28
BECKY
I t took us two hours to get to the base camp. The traffic was insane, but it was to be expected at such a large and prestigious event. Cars honked impatiently as exhaust fumes filled the air, but a flutter of excitement spread through my chest. This race had such a dynamic energy about it, and I was delighted to be a part of it all, even if only as a spectator.
We parked Weston’s truck and stepped out onto the muddy ground. The crowds of people milling around were so overwhelming, I worried I might lose Weston in the chaos, so I reached for his hand. He turned to me with a gentle smile, our fingers fitting together like puzzle pieces .
I shyly took in Weston’s appearance as we walked, his strong features and the determined set of his jaw. I admired his fierce dedication to his commitments. It was one of the things that drew me to him. Pride for him swelled in my heart. But the question of the future still lurked in the background. What would it look like for us? There would be time for Weston and me to figure that out after the race; for now, he needed to keep his head in the game.
Friendly volunteers greeted us with bright smiles. After we finished registering, we made our way to the dining hall for the pre-race dinner. The room was humming with chatter and laughter as athletes from all over the country gathered to fuel up for the grueling race ahead. Weston and I found a table and dug into heaping plates of pasta; the creamy texture of the noodles balanced perfectly by the savory sauce.
After our meal, Weston took charge. He guided me through the process of packing his bags with essentials I would need to bring him at various checkpoints throughout the race. We went over the map together, Weston’s warm breath tickling my ear as he leaned over my shoulder to point out each checkpoint.
Throughout it all, Weston was the perfect gentleman, introducing me to his acquaintances as his girlfriend. I felt all gooey inside and often blushed from the attention he was showering upon me.
It would be an early night for everyone, so we settled ourselves in the tent as soon as all our prep was done. It was a large, sturdy tent with ten mattresses spread out evenly on the floor. Weston and I chose mattresses next to each other, but it still felt like there was a canyon of space between us. Slowly, our roommates’ headlamps and flashlights were extinguished, and it dawned on me that I would soon have to do the same.
“Turn that light out, please,” said a woman on the other side of the tent, annoyance clear in her voice.
I hadn’t thought of the dark when I agreed to sleep in the tent. Oh no. It took all my willpower to switch off my flashlight. I pulled my sleeping bag up around my neck, shut my eyes tight, and tried to convince myself I was at home in a fully lit room.
“Becky?” I heard Weston whisper, “Are you okay?”
I couldn’t reply for fear of crying and making a scene, so I just clutched my sleeping bag tighter and tried to temper my breathing. The next thing I knew, Weston was dragging my mattress toward his. Without a word, he settled me next to himself. We were both in our own sleeping bags, but he wrapped one of his strong arms around me and tucked me against himself .
“Weston, what will these other people say?” I whispered once I found my voice.
“Who cares what they say?” he whispered back, “I won’t be able to sleep if I know you are crumbling from fear an arm’s length away. I wish I could force them to let you keep the light on, but hopefully you’ll feel safer if you are with me.”
He kissed my forehead and laid his head on his pillow as if it were normal for an adult to have a crippling fear of the dark. I’d never felt so loved and understood before.
With a deep breath, I allowed myself to settle into his protective embrace, finding comfort in his arms. The surrounding darkness seemed less intimidating with his presence, but thoughts of my past lingered, threatening to claw their way back into my consciousness.
Time passed, the darkness stretching on, but Weston’s arms remained a steady fortress around me. I sought solace in prayer, seeking divine guidance to release the chains that bound me. I lifted up silent pleas for courage, for the ability to let go of the crippling fear that had plagued me for so long. Having spent so much time reading my Bible and learning about God these last few days, it felt a tiny bit easier to trust Him.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the tightness in my chest eased. A sense of peace washed over me, a gentle reassurance that I was not alone in this battle. With Weston’s kindness and my fervent prayers, I felt a glimmer of hope as I drifted off to sleep.