Chase

Water splatters against me.

Wind rushes towards me.

My body bows under the pressure.

My clothes are sodden. Heavy.

Bedraggled hair hangs limply in front of my face.

The air howls. I’m freezing and drenched to the bone. Everything hurts.

My feet ache. Too many steps.

Just one more.

I can’t.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, he rises.

“No!”

Can’t.

Get away.

My knees buckle from underneath me, and soft soil spills onto my hands. Wind whips at my exposed skin, hair flying into my face. I scream in effort as I dig my fingers inches into the soft dirt, propelling myself forward. My once-white sundress, whipping aimlessly in the wind, is splattered with dark brown mud.

Overhead, the sky is gray, clouds roiling as they let all of their emotions out — sadness, pain, rage. The raindrops sting as they slam into my skin.

A shriek escapes my lips. The pain is everywhere, waves of it rolling over me and leaving me blind and groaning. I’m on the ground. I don’t want to open my eyes because the rain is falling into my face — and then it stops, because he’s leaning over me; I can feel his breath on my face and I just don’t want to be conscious anymore. I stay still, and feel soft lips pressed against mine.