Her heart was racing as the machine roared to life. Tiny beads of sweat spread across her nape and back as she felt the engine's vibrations. Then, butterflies swirled across her stomach as she waited anxiously for the lights to change.
She suddenly remembered what her mother would always say to her. "It is better to be afraid of something than to fear nothing. It reminds us that we are mere humans, capable of making mistakes and stupid, irrational decisions."
She used to wonder if her mother had ever made any stupid decision in her life since she was seemingly always in control of her situation. Her biggest hero had always appeared to be a rational thinker incapable of making dumb mistakes.
Then, she caught her with the biggest lie she had ever told her. Of that, her point of view of her had drastically changed. Until now, she could not forget and forgive her. Not unless her mother would finally admit the truth to her.
"Are you ready?" Her friend shouted over her window, breaking her from her mild trance. She nodded and gave him a thumbs-up, indicating that she was more than ready for this.
She never thought that what she did was stupid. It was a passion that she believed ran through her veins. She loved what the speed could do to her heart and how it always calmed her mind.
But her mother's words did remind her that she should always be careful and avoid reckless and idiotic mistakes. It was easy to fall to one's ego and then, later on, regret not being able to tell the tale.
Simply put, one wrong move in this game would be the end and could be the difference between life and death.
"You can do this." Biting her lips to stop them from trembling. She was nervous, but that was human nature. It was the most natural thing in this world.
She just had to muster the courage to control her fear. Deep breaths and a little shake of her head and hands were all she needed. Then, she returned her attention to the view before her.
Her fingers itched as they gripped the steering wheel tightly. Her foot gradually stepped on the gas, revving the engine, signaling she was ready.
Her other foot slowly stepped on the clutch, and then her other hand shifted the gear into position. She could already feel the gas running in her veins. Soon, the car would soar in the wind as if she was flying with no wings.
But as her eyes stared at the bright light ahead, a cloud of doubt overshadowed her sight as it temporarily blinded her from what lay ahead.
Suddenly a memory flickered before her eyes as it instantly replayed a portion of the past. She did not usually have flashbacks when she was in deep thought. It was the last thing she needed in a time like this.
But what could she do when she was suddenly rolling on the floor, crying her heart out as she waited for her mother to save her? She was a nobody. Everybody was mocking her because she was nothing.
She tried to fight. She tried to stand up when she fell on the dirt ground. But the girl was taller, bigger, and a lot stronger. She kept shoving her down, never giving her a chance. The more tears fell from her eyes, the more she enjoyed bullying her around.
All the kids around them cheered, encouraging the other girl to go on and on. The loud laughter floated around her, ridiculing her again and again. All she could do was cry. Pathetic. That was her.
Then, something flashed right in front of her, snapping her back to the brightly lit road ahead. The shouting and the engine roaring immediately reminded her where she was.
Her vision was still a bit blurry, realizing that tears had gathered just at the edge of her eyes. Quickly, she wiped them with the back of her hands, reminding herself that those days were over.
She was not that girl anymore. She was not a loser. She was here because she was taking rein in her present and changing her future.
"Snap yourself out of there!" She mentally shouted. It was not the time for tears as she blinked them away and distractions as she shook them out of her mind.
She was ready as her eyes refocused on the task ahead, concentrating on the man at the center of the brightly lighted, empty street. But she quickly glanced to her right, also checking her competitor.
The smirk on his face as he turned in her direction only fueled the fire burning inside her. She knew she had to beat him. Losing to this man was not in her cards, not tonight.
"You're mine." The other guy shouted to her over the roar of the engines. But she still understood it, making her want to puke in disgust. But, at the moment, all she could do was ignore him and concentrate.
Finally, a man walked into the middle of the track, signaling them to get ready. Quickly, her hands coordinated with her feet, preparing for the next seconds.
Not long enough, the man gradually raised his flag. It was time as the flag waved in the air. The race was finally on.
She immediately stepped on the gas, roaring the car to life, and then her hand shifted the gear, adding more momentum to the rate the vehicle was moving.
Soon, it was speeding on the gravel path, racing to the finish line. A few more meters before someone would declare the winner.
She could see that her opponent was fighting alongside her. It could be a photo finish, or he might win if she did not do anything about it.
"Come on." She pushed herself to her limits as excitement coursed through her body with every oscillation of the different metallic parts around her.
All traces of her nervousness vanished, replaced by the thrill of the power of speed in her hands. It was like being high but not on drugs but through her adrenaline. The rush that it created in her veins.
She turned one last time to her opponent, seeing the finish line flash through her eyes. Without a doubt, she knew she would win the race.
Eventually, she crossed the line before him.
She won.
A few minutes later, people surrounded her, congratulating her for winning the race. It must be her lucky night, enjoying her victory.
It was hard to be part of this world since men usually dominated this competition. But she loved this sport. And she would never give it up just because she was a woman.
"That was amazing. You won." Noreen hugged her, jumping in excitement beside her.
Yes, she won. She could not stop telling herself. It was probably the high of winning a man's game. For beating the man who said she could not beat. It could be a million little things.
"Thanks, Bestie." Luisa smiled proudly before everyone. Taking the win as something she deserved.
Because her opponent did not hand the victory to her, she took it with her hard work, determination, and will to win. But the fight was not yet over. It was just the beginning.
"You were on fire, Luis." Vinnie suddenly appeared on her side and wrapped her waist around his arms, twirling her around like she weighed nothing. "Did I tell you that you should join this race?"
"Thanks, Vinnie. I owe you one." She answered her friend, glad she accepted his challenge.
"Then, you should always listen to Vinnie." He kept saying as they all laughed and enjoyed her victory.
"Congratulations." Another voice joined their celebration. "I guessed you won this fair and square." The man handed her a bundle of money that was the price for their bet.
She turned to him and smiled. "You also did well, Errol." Grabbing the reward from his hand. "But I guess I did better tonight." She could not help it. She had to put him in his place.
This man had bullied her, telling her that this was no place for a girl. But she had shown him tonight that he should treat everyone equally, whether in life or on the tracks.
Then, she turned to Vinnie and split the price between them. She might be the one who won the race, but it was his car that helped her. So, it was only fair to share the winning.
But before they could celebrate some more, a siren not far alerted them of incoming police.
Everybody involved in the race rushed to their respective cars, hustling to clear the place.
She also sprinted to her car but not before she noticed someone in the slightly dim corner. He appeared to be taking pictures. Of her? But that seemed absurd. Maybe he was just interested in drag racing.
Oops! She had no time for him as alarming sirens neared.
That was a clear signal for everyone to get ready, set, and go.