The next morning, I woke up with a knot in my stomach that felt like it had been tied too tight. My eyes shot open, and the first thing I thought was, It's today. I lay there for a moment, my heart thudding in my chest, and I couldn't help but groan.
Every muscle in my body was tense, and my mind raced through all the things that could go wrong. What if I wasn't strong enough? What if I messed up in front of everyone?
I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes, trying to shake the nervous energy. I got dressed quickly, choosing my lightest and most flexible clothes, and threw my hair back into a simple ponytail.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the small mirror above the table. My face looked pale, eyes wide with anxiety. I stuck my tongue out at myself. "Great, you look terrified, Alyndra," I muttered.
My hands fumbled as I buckled my boots, nearly tripping over myself in my rush. "Why am I like this?" I groaned again, half-laughing at my own ridiculousness.