The new magic number, 97

Sometimes you look back in life regretting the decisions that you have made, wondering where would you be if you took the other path. Sometimes you look back and send a silent prayer to God, thanking him for the wisdom to choose wisely. Sometimes you look back fondly at the triumphs in your life, reveling in pride of your achievements and inflating your ego ever so slightly. But sometimes you look back not at choices that you've made, nor the triumphs in your life. It is not defeat, which indicates that you have tried your best, but rather the lack of it. The meek surrender, the absence of fight, the carelessness in disregarding the need for urgency; these are the moments that will haunt you for the rest of your lives.

Numbers. What a strange thing to have in this world. Just as alphabets allows us to form words that we communicate with each other and convey our thoughts and opinions, numbers allow us to quantify things. Alphabets can form words that are cruel to hear, and numbers too, in different circumstances can be cruel.

75. That represents the magic number I once needed, but failed to achieve. My failure was that I achieved 74. Cruel? Yes indeed. But what did I do about it? I accepted my failure meekly as I have in the past. Should I have fought more? Should I have moved Heaven and Earth? It matters not. I look back now and regret that I did only one thing. Nothing.

97. This represents the new magic number I now need, at least for the foreseeable future. Can I do the impossible? But why would I put myself in such torment? I regret.

Can it be done? It seemed impossible. But I am inspired by a desire to prove certain people wrong. Even if it was borne out of anger and resentment.

Time to bring my A-game. 97, I'm coming to get you. I'll move Heaven and Earth if I have to.