We Found Love on The Towpath

Chapter 1: Morning routine

Her lungs burned in protest as she treaded closer and closer to the end of the towpath. She had ran 30 minutes out onto the path and had turned around to do 30 minutes back, pacing herself and keeping good running form along the way. But she was becoming anxious because she knew that it was almost over and that she had to push for a little while longer.

With her music blasting in her ears, her mile counter alerted her that she had hit 5 miles and the time was 55:00 minutes she smiled to herself increasing her speed and setting her sights on the upcoming hill in front of her. She was determined to beat this hill and in her mind, she was saying 'with every uphill there's a downhill!' And she did beat it running down the opposite side of the hill with pride and with 4 minutes left on the clock. "Almost there!" she wheezed.

But her run was cut short when she saw a woman sprawled out on the ground not moving and unconscious….

2 days before

Saturday

The sound of Korra's alarm is what woke her up that early Saturday morning, she turned it off threw off her covers and stretched. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she checked her phone for any notifications, besides the one text message form her friend Bolin her phone was pretty dry, she signed and typed out a reply to her friend.

Bolin: Good Morning r u going to the towpath this morning?-7:45 am

Korra: Of course I'm coming bro got to keep in shape for track. I'll meet u there-8:03am

Korra set her phone back down on the nightstand and got dressed for the morning run.

"So, what are your goals for this track season Korra?" Bolin asked as they ran they were already 10 minutes in and was just making small talk before they got too tired to talk at all.

"I wouldn't say goals more like to get better and stay better so no one takes my spot, I've already went to states for the 200 meter and 400 meter and I would like to do it again, not to mention my pop off position on the 4by1 relay I have to make sure I keep that spot too." Korra said as she waved to one of the runners that passed them.

Bolin gave a smile to the passing runner as well then said, "That's basically how I feel too. Got to make sure I stay good in long jump and the 100 meter."

Bolin and Korra were both sophomores at the university of Virginia and were both accepted in with full rides as long as they kept up with their grades and were successful in their sport. Which ceased to be no problem for the both of them.

25 minutes into the run Korra and Bolin's conversation went quiet and both were focusing on their breathing, occasionally waving politely to the passing runner or biker.

Korra was so focused on the path in front of her and was suddenly knocked out of her trace when a runner zoomed past her accidently hitting her shoulder and throwing her a little bit off balance.

"Sorry!" The women yelled back turning to look at Korra.

Korra waved her off, "It's cool you're in your zone I get it!" She managed to say back even though she could barely breath.

The woman smiled and nodded and continued her run leaving the two behind.

"She was cute." Bolin huffed out.

Korra rolled her eyes, "Don't you have a girlfriend, do you know what Opal would do to you if she found out you were checking out other girls?!" Korra exclaimed.

"Duhh and I would never cheat on Opal. I'm talking about she's cute for your smart ass." He smiled as they started to turn around because they were 30 minutes in.

Korra had to admit the girl was pretty cute. Her hair was jet black and her creamy pale skin, that was drenched with sweat, made her look alluring in the sunlight. Korra wasn't able to see her eyes because of how far ahead she was, but if she had she was sure that they would be just as beautiful as the rest of her appearance. Korra's cheeks warmed up and not from the heat from her running for a long time, "She was alright." Korra lied trying not to seem phased by the attractive woman they just crossed paths with.

"Mhmm." Bolin teased seeing right through his friend.

"Whatever dude c'mon let's hurry up and get back, I'm trying to go back to sleep after this."

Sunday

The next day Korra was at the towpath bright and early, pulling her car into the parking lot. She parked next to a cherry red mustang the same woman from yesterday stretching next to the car. Korra hoped out of the car and waved at her with a warm smile. "Good Morning." She said.

"Good Morning." The women said back standing up straight after stretching her caves. She wore a marron sports bra with matching spandex and her hair was tied up in a messy bun, but her eyes were still a mystery to Korra because they were hidden behind the sunglasses she was wearing. "Came for a morning run I see." She said stretching out her forearms.

Korra smiled at her and nodded, "Well of course it's Runday Sunday!" Korra joked which was rewarded with a giggle from the woman in front of her.

She put her hands on her hips, "It sure is." She smiled brightly at Korra, biting her lip.

"My Name is Korra by the way." Korra said as she extended her hand out.

The woman took her hand and shook it smiling adoringly at Korra, "Asami, nice to meet you."

"Well I believe we already met but it is nice to properly meet you, yes." Korra said slyly.

Asami bashfully tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear as her cheeks grew warm. "Yeah sorry about that I didn't mean to be so rude yesterday I was just so absorbed in my running that I didn't realize what was in front of me."

"It's fine I understand I'm a track runner after all."

"Oh, really me too what do you run?" Asami asked completely intrigued in Korra's common interest in the sport.

"Sprints, I run 200,400, and the 4by1 relay." Korra said with pride she loved to talk about track especially with someone who understands the sport. "What do you run?"

"Wow you must be fast those are all fast races. I run dis-" Asami was cut off by the honk of a car horn.

"Koorrrraaa!" Bolin roared to the top of his lungs as he pulled into a parking space next to Korra's car. He hoped out and rushed to Korra's side picking her up in a big bear hug. "Good morning running buddy. You ready to kick ass and take some names." Bolin hollered as he put Korra back down.

"Hell yeah Bo it's Runday Sunday!" Korra hollered back with just as much enthusiasm.

Asami laughed, "I guess I better leave you guys to it then. I'll see you around Korra Ya?"

"Yeah see you Asami nice meeting you." Korra said as she watched Asami take off on a light jog heading to the towpath, licking her lips as she watched her butt sway.

Bolin watch the interaction with an eyebrow raised, "You got it bad and it's only been a day hahaha!" He laughed.

Korra rolled her eyes and put her short hair up into a ponytail. "Oh shut up let's go."

Monday (Present Day)

It was a rainy day this early Monday morning in Virginia, but that didn't stop Korra from going on her morning run before class. She suited up in her rain coat and regular running wear and got in her car to head to the towpath. Bolin had texted her that morning telling her he wouldn't be accompanying her this morning, because he spent the night with Opal. Korra was disappointed but wasn't going to let that stop her ether and still decided to go. "Pfft they're probably having morning sex right now." Korra laughed to herself.

Korra pulled into the towpath and parked, stretched, and started running on the path.

Korra stopped abruptly beside the woman, her heart was pounding so fast in her chest and she didn't know if it was from the run or how terrified she was in that moment. 'What if she's dead?" Korra thought to herself.

The women's face was covered up by the hood of her rain coat, Korra leaned down cautiously to remove her hood and when she did her breath hitched and her mouth went dry. It was Asami.

Korra flipped Asami onto her back, yanked out her headphones so she could listen for breathing and feel for a pulse. 1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10… the seconds ticked by agonizingly slow but on the 10th second, she felt a weak pulse but she wasn't breathing. Korra called 911.

"911 what is your emergency?!" The 911 dispatcher answered.

"I'm at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath and a woman is unconscious, we're on the trail about a mile out."

"Ok Help is on the way, can I get your name and the woman's name if you know it by chance!"

"My name is Korra and her name is Asami please hurry!"

"We will, and keep Asami safe."

Korra hung up the phone and began giving rescue breathing to Asami, on the 24th breath she reassesseschecking her pulse and breathingagain only to find that Asami had lost her pulse. "No!" Korra screamed as she began giving her 30 compressions and 2 breaths for five cycles and after that she reassessed again only to find the same results. She was beginning to feel tired but she refused to lose her so she continued to give CPR until EMS arrived.

20 minutes later EMS finally arrived and took over, by that time the rain had stopped and the sun came creeping out from the dark and gloomy clouds. EMS asked Korra a series of questions and Korra answered them all.

"Yes, I managed to get her pulse going again but she's not breathing."

"Do you know what happened?" One of the EMS responders asked.

"No, I was just running and happed to find her here unconscious."

"Do you have any relations with this woman?"

"No. I-I mean well we just met 2 days ago I see her occasionally on this trail often but we officially met 2 days ago."

He nodded and thanked Korra for her information and went to help the other paramedics put Asami on the stretcher while the very last paramedic helped Asami breathe with a BVM.

Korra stood back still in shock by the whole situation but snapped out of it when they started to race to get Asami to the entrance of the trail. "Wait I want to ride with her if that's ok."

"Yes, but we must hurry!" One of the paramedics said.