(Solo Flashback) Getting Stronger

[Riley Hawker]

Spring in the Year 511 AV

Riley had just arrived in Sunberth and needed something to help him keep his skills sharp. He needed strength. He found an alley that looked like nobody had been in for a long time. Riley sat down in the middle of the alley and went to work. He started doing pushups, counting one after another. When he reached thirty, his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't help but think of his family. Did they miss him? When he left them, there was only a little note on his desk. It didn't tell them where he was, but it did tell them what his goals were. When he thought about his dad, wherever he was. What was he doing? Would he support Riley? Riley reached 87 pushups and collapsed from exhaustion. His mind came to normality and the pain in his arms set in. Burning is the only feeling he had in his arms. When he tried to lift his arms gravity pulled them down. After trying again he managed to pull himself into a sit-up position and started doing sit-ups. He tried to get lost in thought again, but it didn't work. He managed to do 60 before giving out. His arms didn't burn anymore, but they were sore. He saw a low roof house and jumped up to grab the edge of the roof. He tried to pull himself up, but his muscles in his arms gave resistance. He pulled up. Riley looked at the next house and grabbed the edge of the roof again. He pulled himself up quicker, but couldn't do it again. He only had one more rooftop till he was on top of all the roofs. He shook his arms, jumped up and grabbed the edge of the roof. He pulled himself up, the sore feeling turned into a pain. He tried to pull up but couldn't. Riley almost got up, but lost it. He just hung there with pain in his body. He kicked his legs and got his arms over. His abdominal muscles pushed into the rooftop. He pushed hard and snapped his legs over his head. He did a forward roll. All the work set in him. He was exhausted. Riley couldn't move. He just laid there. Sleep, that is the only thing he wanted. He needed sleep. Sleep....