Running Away

He was always running away.

To be honest, I couldn't remember how this cat and mouse began in the first place. I tried looking back to the first time he had run away from me, but the memory was hazy at best. The notion of him not wanting to be with me was so ingrained in my head that, after a while, all memories of him taking off in the opposite direction began to merge into one. The only thing that stood out in my mind was the feeling that washed over me whenever he turned the other way.

Complete and utter despair invaded the empty crevices of my heart.

Over time I had grown used to it. Anger over took sadness while determination pushed out thoughts of hopelessness. Somehow I had convinced myself that if I could just catch up to him, then everything I had ever dreamt of would come true. Fantasies that I only admitted to myself during that moment between being asleep and awake would happen if I could just catch up to him. Every single fear would be eradicated if I could just touch him. I had built up that moment in my mind for years, the day I would finally do the impossible and catch the unattainable hedgehog.

Recently hope had begun to surge into the deepest depths of my mind. Did I imagine it, or was he slowing down a little? Did he just catch my eye when no one was watching? I couldn't forget the simple comments that he spoke that might not mean anything to anyone who was listening, but I could read the implication woven in-between his words.

His running habits changed, especially after the day he stayed at my house to see if I was alright. Not to mention my near death experience. There was a definite dynamic switch in our relationship. Somewhere along the way he had started to slow down for me, waiting until I followed in suit. His pace began to match mine.

The wind was slowing down for the rose, and I was terrified.

Here he was, standing in front of me, grounded and secure like I had once been. He had that look in his eyes, one that I had never been privileged to witness, but had heard about through stories from other people. It was the calm before the storm of various emotions. His eyes were slanted, searching mine for some unforeseen truth, for permission.

My hands felt clammy though it was cool outside. A slight breeze tickled my skin, chilling my heated cheeks. His hand reached out, tucking a displaced hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my temple and I forgot how to breathe. My nerves were alive and on fire, burning their way on a path of destruction. As he began to involuntarily lean in closer to me, my mind cleared and one thing was for certain.

I was petrified when I should have been ecstatic.

There was no euphoric feeling flooding my system. My eyes were wide while his were slowing closing while the gap between us shortened considerably. That moment that I had been dreaming of since I was a little girl was suddenly thrust upon me. I was not ready. What if everything I had dreamt of was a nightmare? What if we did not work out? What would happen to our friendship? What would I do when all I had hoped for came crashing down and I was left to face reality? I couldn't face this particular fear. Not yet.

I took one step backwards. Then another. Before I knew it, I was completely turned around in the opposite direction, my legs thrusting me forward back into my comfort zone, to where catching Sonic was all but a daydream.

Except I was the one running away, leaving him to face the heartbreak.

I was really excited to write this chapter and I think it came out exactly how I had planned. I wanted to play with writing just exposition, focusing on feelings rather than dialogue. I hope I did this chapter justice. My internship is almost complete and the week after next week is my spring break so hopefully I will have another chapter up soon. Thank you for reading! Big thanks to PoeticLover1996 for her kind words and inspiration! :)