I kept running and running with no thought of where I was going. Faces, buildings, street names- all of that was fuzzy. It seemed the edges of reality were blurred. All I focused on was the movements of my legs and the steady rhythm of both my heart and breath. They acted as one. With each heartbeat, I took a breath. Bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump. Inhale, exhale, inhale. Just keep focusing on your breathing. Don't think. Thinking is for nubs. And I definitely do not want to be a nub.
I don't know how, but somehow I ended up at my favorite place. Besides Carly's house of course. I leaned against the wall of our hangout and stood there with my eyes closed for a while. I only opened them when a huge drop of water splashed onto my cheek. Great. And of course T-Bo had taken the day off to visit his 'lady friend'. With the day I've been having I might have actually bought one of his meat filled sticks.
I just stood there for a moment. Feeling the rain soak my shirt and dampen my hair. It was nice. I didn't have to see anything. The rain could seep into my eyes and pour in front of me and all I would see was the faint colors and outline of Seattle. But it couldn't completely blind me. So I could see a girl walking towards me. I had spent so much time with her I had no trouble recognizing her.
"Freddie!" Carly grabbed my hand, trying fruitlessly to keep herself somewhat dry. "Freddie! Come back with me!" She tugged at me, but I wouldn't budge. I wanted to feel the rain. I wanted to know that the world was crying for me when I couldn't.
I just looked at her. And she seemed recognize something because she dropped me hand. She stood in front of me and stared for a long time before whispering, "You know, she isn't the only girl in the world. I'm here too."