Short Stories

Weather

The world around me blurs by as the air burns my lungs and acid fills my legs. I can't breathe, my mouth dry as my tongue swipes across the roof of my mouth begging for moisture. My skin feels ice cold which contrasts with the burning in my muscles. As my feet crunch and slide across the dirty snow that lies on the ground, I can't help but focus on running. 

I am running as fast as I can. Not even the burning in my lungs and legs can compare to the burning in my heart. I have to get there and I can't stop. Those eight words are etched into my brain. With no hesitation, I started running not even realizing I knew exactly where to go.

Thank you for everything, please don't hate me

I didn't even realize I was crying until I taste the salt on my lips. My legs are carrying me faster than I knew possible. Across town, down the pebbled path, up the broken concrete stairs, along the dirt trail. Then she's there, her toes curled across the rocks as they tear into her skin. Her head tilted back, eyes closed as the moonlight shines across her face, illuminating her features. 

Her head whips in my direction as my throat becomes hoarse. Her face is stained with tears, her shirt damp with the chill of the air. All of the air is knocked from my lungs, as my arms encircle her body as we both slam into the wet slush of the ground crying into each other's shoulders.

Two years later

My fingers tap along my dress, my heart beating in my throat with every inch of my skin pulsating. It feels like I am going to throw up. Then I hear her. The soft crunches of the rocks under her feet. 

I turn and it's like a punch to my stomach. It looks like she is gliding across the ground as the dress floats around her body. For a moment I forget to breathe and it's like I am running towards her again. Tears seep from my eyes as a sob rack my body. Her cool fingers grab my clammy hands and place it on her cheek, her eyes as soft as her skin as she whispers,

"Thank you for saving me."