After hanging around for another half an hour or so I realised that Dad hadn't just ran to the shop for milk. Okay yeah, so I wouldn't be the biggest fan of telling my giant, overgrown son that I cheated on his mother but that didn't mean it was okay for him to leave me to do the dirty. I mean, after all he was supposed to be the adult or I wouldn't even be there. The more I thought about, the more irritated I got until I was pacing the narrow hallway in exasperation. I sighed, it wasn't like I could even go to my room because, oh yeah, I don't have one yet.
"Ugh, I give up," I muttered eventually and yanking one of my suitcases towards me, rooted around through my carefully folded clothes until I found a pair of tiny black yoga shorts, a hot pink sports bra, and a light blue tank top. I slipped into the tiny bathroom under the stairs and after spending a few seconds looking for the light quickly changed. Once I was dressed, I yanked on a pair of sports socks and tattered runners and slowly stretched. I loved this feeling, when my mind felt completely at one with my body.
Moving quickly now, I slipped out the front door. It was raining and a bit cold but I barely even shivered; Ireland is called the green isle for a reason. I shut my eyes and breathed in deeply, trying to imagine myself back home. I gave up almost immediately, the air just smelled so different. Sighing again, I pushed off down the road and settled into my natural five minute mile pace. I'm naturally inclined to stress, and after my childhood of running and changing everything every few months, I'm an irritable bitch unless I get my run every day. My mam always said I should start running properly, make a career but we never stopped moving long enough for me to join a club, never mind making it to a high level. Besides running is when I feel happiest, relaxed, in control and completely comfortable. I don't want to ruin that just for fame.
I ran along the forest-lined road for maybe five minutes before coming to an opening onto a trail. I hesitated, afraid of getting lost but then shrugged. What was the worst that could happen? I pushed the howls of the wolf that immediately came to mind and started slowly down the trail, careful of twisting my ankle on the forest path. To my surprise the trail was fairly smooth and wide, leaving me ample room to run. I smiled, listening to the sound of the wind in the trees and the soft rustling of life moving around me. This is why I don't wear earphones while running; it ruins the magic of being outside.
For another fifteen minutes or so, I followed the path into the woods, mind wandering as I trekked deeper. I really liked this trail, and was considering making it my usual route. It was peaceful, but alive and wild at the same time. I was thinking of turning back, not wanting to get lost when I heard a rustling noise coming from my right. I know, I know, wasn't I just saying how much I liked the noises? But this one was different. The others were obviously made by squirrels and the like. This one sounded big enough to be a bear or maybe a horse. I slowed down and stopped, standing perfectly still on the trail other than my eyes scanning the treeline. It's weird how much you can hear when you really focus. All of a sudden, I could hear all the tiny movements of a forest from the rustlings of little animals, to the wind blowing and a frightened call of an unknown bird. I just hoped it was me that frightened the bird. But the loudest noises of all were my pounding heart and heavy breathing. I almost laughed at that, I could run for hours with barely any exertion but throw a strange noise in there and I sound like I'm 6oo-pounds and running for the bus.
Laughing out loud at myself, I turned and continued into the forest, refusing to be scared away by something that, even if it was dangerous, I could probably outrun or at least climb up a tree to avoid. Still laughing, I ran for another ten minutes or so before turning around and heading home. I'm completely focused on my body's rhythm, not much going through my mind when I hear the noise again, this time even louder. I skitter for a second and consider stopping and climbing a tree, but decide to keep running and ignore the noises. It didn't help when the noises followed me along the path as though whatever it was was running alongside me but I was determined it wasn't going to bother me so there was really no point panicking. I mean in all honesty, it was probably my imagination making it louder than it was. Hell, it was probably an innocent squirrel or something.
Even so, I upped my speed slightly and flickered a sideways glance every few seconds but my eyes were unable to pierce the thick foliage so I was stuck with a continuous view of trees and the occasional bush. It had taken me around half an hour to get this far into the forest, so even with my increased speed it would probably take at least 20 minutes to get back as far as the road and then I was still in the middle of nowhere. At first I was nervous. Okay, truthfully I was downright terrified but after a few minutes of it just running alongside me, I kind of calmed down. It was weird but it was relaxing actually, like having a running partner but with no expectations and no wish to invade your personal space. I smiled to myself, and finished my run at my regular pace, relaxed. It kind of made me feel like I had a protector. I giggled as I turned back onto the road. I stopped and stared into the forest and for a moment I thought I saw a mountain of grey fur. Then it was gone. I sighed, wishing I knew what it was. Sighing again, I headed back to the house, much happier than when I had left my new home.