Running away was what brought them together. One from the demons lurking in the evil
corners of humanity, one from the demons of her heart, her past, running away to the place where
two paths converged under the cover of trees, where pale predawn light filtered through leaves
tinted the flame-shades of autumn. Each had come from opposite paths, but running in distant
synchrony, their unfaltering quick strides fell in tune with one another as the paths came together.
With wary eyes, Abbie Carmichael studied this woman who had run up alongside her,
breath measured and even at a pace not many could sustain. The whole reason she ran at this
godawful early hour was to get away from people. The small handful of people she did see she
passed, their slow speed and labored breath offering up no competition to long legs and years of
running- to University of Texas, then away, then back again, to law, to New York, to DC, to this
well-trodden path that she considered her sacred ground.
A wellspring of needless resentment at this little redhead running next to her rose
unbidden in Abbie's throat. 'Calm, Abbie, calm. The whole point of this run is not to give yourself
an ulcer.' But she couldn't shake the feeling that this woman didn't belong here, on her path.
Abbie looked down at the woman to find she was being studied by wary eyes of ocean blue. The
woman turned her gaze back to the path and sped up. In response to the silent challenge, Abbie
matched pace, watching the red-gold hair catch the morning light.
They ran in silent unison, each flicking distrustful glares at the other. One would speed up,
pushing in silent challenge. The other would meet it, catching up and keeping pace, then passing.
The cycle of chase continued, until they both sprinted headlong, arms pumping, feet pounding the
pavement, drawing breath, and in their pace, they turned their gazes towards one another, wanting
to see the other give out. Their eyes met, and by tacit agreement, they slowed, stopped running,
and turned to face one another.
corners of humanity, one from the demons of her heart, her past, running away to the place where
two paths converged under the cover of trees, where pale predawn light filtered through leaves
tinted the flame-shades of autumn. Each had come from opposite paths, but running in distant
synchrony, their unfaltering quick strides fell in tune with one another as the paths came together.
With wary eyes, Abbie Carmichael studied this woman who had run up alongside her,
breath measured and even at a pace not many could sustain. The whole reason she ran at this
godawful early hour was to get away from people. The small handful of people she did see she
passed, their slow speed and labored breath offering up no competition to long legs and years of
running- to University of Texas, then away, then back again, to law, to New York, to DC, to this
well-trodden path that she considered her sacred ground.
A wellspring of needless resentment at this little redhead running next to her rose
unbidden in Abbie's throat. 'Calm, Abbie, calm. The whole point of this run is not to give yourself
an ulcer.' But she couldn't shake the feeling that this woman didn't belong here, on her path.
Abbie looked down at the woman to find she was being studied by wary eyes of ocean blue. The
woman turned her gaze back to the path and sped up. In response to the silent challenge, Abbie
matched pace, watching the red-gold hair catch the morning light.
They ran in silent unison, each flicking distrustful glares at the other. One would speed up,
pushing in silent challenge. The other would meet it, catching up and keeping pace, then passing.
The cycle of chase continued, until they both sprinted headlong, arms pumping, feet pounding the
pavement, drawing breath, and in their pace, they turned their gazes towards one another, wanting
to see the other give out. Their eyes met, and by tacit agreement, they slowed, stopped running,
and turned to face one another.