The Favorites

You can always be better. But don't let that stop you from carrying yourself like a champion. If you don't believe you're the best, no one else will either.

The thing is, when pushing your limits is all you know, when it seems normal to you… it's hard to remember you even have limits. Until you run right into them.

"When expectations are that high? Anything but the best feels like failure."

The gold medal was theirs to lose.

"If only he wanted to win as much as he wanted you."

...to Sheila, competing was pointless if you couldn't win.

She couldn't remember the name of the man who'd fathered her children, but she knew exactly how many Olympic golds he'd won.

Sheils's whole life had been spent grasping for more - more medals, more money, more power - and it would never be enough.

...all I saw was misery.

You can always be better, she'd said to me when we first met. But what was the point if you had everything and enjoyed nothing?

Bella's eyes sparked with anger. "If you'd really wanted to win, that story wouldn't have stopped you. Nothing would have stopped you."