Personal Best — Tami Veldura

 Sam is a high school cross country runner stuck living with hisdivorced dad when the pandemic shuts down traveling, hanging withfriends, even school. He'd rather be with his mom, who at leastcalls him by the right name and pronouns. The day goes from gloomy toterrifying when Dad gets a letter in the mail that seems to turn himinto a different person. An angry person. Scared, and more alonethan ever, Sam knows he has to act... or Dad, and Sam, will disappearfor good.Personal Best was first published in the PikesPeak Writer's Anthology Fresh Starts in 2021