Isn't it interesting how quickly seconds and split seconds pass? Throughout the day, thousands of them slip through our fingers or go by, unnoticed, unimportant, unremembered. But then there are a few vibrant, pivotal, emotionally-charged moments that seem to contain enough power to make the mundane ones all seem worth it. It's when the teacher walks by, ready to drop on your desk that test you worked so hard on, but still aren't sure how well it went. It's when your school's point guard releases the 3 point shot for the win as the waning clock hits triple 0's, your team down 2. It's when the words stumble out of your mouth, looking into her eyes, wondering if your awkwardly phrased feelings you confessed are mutual. It's the sum of all fears, the heights of all hopes. The adrenaline is flowing, your stomach churning, the anxiety, the excitement, the thrill bursting through your veins. Everything, all the work, all the anticipation, all the pain, all the waiting, all the planning, comes down to that one moment. Joy and elation yet unknown or disappointment and dejection of the worst variety hinge on these critical seconds, and by now it's completely out of your control. There's nothing you can do. The trigger has been pulled- you can't take the bullet back now. The test has already been turned in, the ball has already been shot, the words have already been said. There's nothing you can do now except wait in this wonderful, terrible, spectacular, agonizing, beautiful moment. Maybe you'll flunk, maybe the shot will clang off the rim, maybe she doesn't feel the same. But you'll get another chance, and maybe next time you'll feel the glory of succeeding. And if not, at least you know that for that one moment, that fleeting second of anticipation, you truly were alive