Runaway Love
It's getting close to 5:00am. Gilly's been out since almost 2:00. Just running. She stops in the park, leaning back against a tree and gasping for breath. Her lungs burn every time she tries to get some air into them, and her heart pounds in her chest. Her body feels weak, but she'll keep going.
It's only a minute she rests before she runs again. Feet hitting the pavement beneath her feet sharply, sending sharp jolts up her tired legs. Every inch of them screams with agony each time her step lands, but she ignores it. Panting, feeling her heart continue to race, swell like it's about to explode.
She's tired. More than just from running. She's just tired. She promised herself she wouldn't get too close when she moved here. She had no idea how long they'd stay. She didn't want to get close in case they left. But she has, and her best friend has left her instead.
Her eyes burn, but she won't shed another tear over this. People leave, she tells herself. It's a fact of life. Now is not the time to get soft. She's doing what little she can to help, knowing it won't be enough, but trying anyway.
And when she collapses from exhaustion a few blocks from her house, she doesn't even bother trying to move. The night's almost over, anyway.
It's only a minute she rests before she runs again. Feet hitting the pavement beneath her feet sharply, sending sharp jolts up her tired legs. Every inch of them screams with agony each time her step lands, but she ignores it. Panting, feeling her heart continue to race, swell like it's about to explode.
She's tired. More than just from running. She's just tired. She promised herself she wouldn't get too close when she moved here. She had no idea how long they'd stay. She didn't want to get close in case they left. But she has, and her best friend has left her instead.
Her eyes burn, but she won't shed another tear over this. People leave, she tells herself. It's a fact of life. Now is not the time to get soft. She's doing what little she can to help, knowing it won't be enough, but trying anyway.
And when she collapses from exhaustion a few blocks from her house, she doesn't even bother trying to move. The night's almost over, anyway.