Rise

     I laid on the ground, beaten down by the two beings that loomed over me. One had the mass of tectonic plates, pushing down on me, keeping me from rising. The other constantly spoke, driving disparaging words into my psyche.
     "You think you can make a difference? Get real."
     "It doesn't matter anyway. Nothing changes, nothing gets better."
     "You can't do that. Who do you think you are?"

     Day in, day out, these two beings went against me, trying their best to keep me where I am.

     Though.

     After years of battling them, I finally realized the truth. It's so simple yet difficult to fully understand.

     I control my reality.
     No matter the challenges, no matter the hardship, I choose how my story unfurls.

     I rose despite the disparaging voice. I rose despite the weight on me. I rose beyond the limitations.
     I forever rise higher and higher, no limitations on my growth.
     No limitation on myself.

    

One Vs. All Round 3

     The lone man dragged his feet in the sand of the frigid, desert night. The cold stabbed needles at his skin while his fatigue weighed him down. He continued onward, determined to reach his goal. Though eventually his stubbornness was worn down by nature's assault on him. He laid on the sand and shifted incessantly, searching for comfort. He finally stilled, sleep washing over him steadily.
     However, he heard a shift in the sands that snatched his attention. He didn't move, as to not let whoever or whatever know he knew of their existence. His senses focused, searching for anymore hint of disturbance. When nothing stirred, he stilled once more, sleep sweeping over him. Another shift, shaking him from sleep. He coiled his muscles, ready for another fight, another challenge. When another shift occurred, he leapt from the sand, throwing sand in the shift's direction.
     However, the sand only hit air, falling with the rest of its company. The lone man's eyes shifted all along the desert plain, searching for anything.
     Suddenly, a slash was drawn on his back, and when he backhanded, he hit nothing. He growled in frustration. Wind kicked up as he angrily scanned his surroundings.
     "You are nothing but a weak child." He whipped his head around, not finding the source of the voice. "Throwing tantrums at anyone who dares go against you." The lone man roared at the voice, backhanding at anything he could hit, kicking up winds further. "See what I mean?" He could hear the twisted smile in the voice and his anger grew. He breathed deeply, trying to calm his flames within.
     "Your weakness disgusts all who are around you..." The voice took a dramatic pause. "Why else would you be alone?" The voice seemed to whisper the last sentence in the lone man's ear, stabbing in his psyche and spreading through his nervous system. The lone man twitched and his breathing became shaky.
     Numerous cuts were drawn on the lone man's body, though he didn't seem to notice. They continued mercilessly, carving up the lone man. Eventually, he stopped twitching and the wind seemed to still as well. After another moment of cuts, the lone man snapped his hand outward, wrapped around something. A struggled breath could be heard as he brought his hand close in front of himself. His eyes pierced the air, so intense it threatened to turn the sand to glass.
     The entity revealed itself: taking the form of an assassin. The lone man released his hold on it, but continued to stare it down. It stared back at him. Silence took residence between the two. Eventually the being bowed its head and vanished.
     The lone man nodded before he laid in the sand, shifting for the most comfort. Once positioned right and still, he drifted to restful sleep.