2A/N: I first uploaded Running on the 8th of May 2008, which was almost 3 years ago (wow, where's the time gone!) and recently I deleted loads of things from fiction press because they weren't relevant anymore or whatever. Running I left on because I love the idea, but I didn't like the way it was written. The way I write's changed in 3 years. So I rewrote. Exactly the same storyline, exactly the same things happening, but hopefully improved writing. Please R&R so I can see what you think. (if you want the original, go to my page, it's the first thing I uploaded)
Running
I'm running. The wind is blowing my long brown hair behind me, making it a tangled mess but I take no notice. The grass beneath my bare feet is cool and tickles with each step I take. And I'm running. I'm not running towards anything and I'm not running away from anything. I'm just running along the endless green grass in the cool June wind.
I run out of breath and let myself fall on the grass. I know the morning dew is likely to strain me light trousers and that's fine. I laugh to myself as I wait for my breath to catch up with me. Seems I ran too fast for it.
As soon as it has caught up I jump up and start running again. Further and further through the grass. The beat of my heart increasing as does my speed. My feet land in quick succession with a thump, thump, thump, matching the beat of my heart.
The breeze tries to keep me cool as the summer sun blazes down on me. It works for a while but I feel myself getting hotter. But still I don't care, all I care about is running. I keep pushing myself forward, never slowing, never pausing, never stopping. Oh how I love running. When running you have no time to think you can only concentrate on breathing. There's no room for anything else except breathing.
Thump. Thump. Thump. I keep running, each foot landing quickly in front of the last. I keep running. Nothing is going to make me stop. I'm going to keep running. Not running away, not running towards, just running. Just running.
Thump. Thump. Thump. My heart continue to beats to the same rhythm as my feet. I push myself harder, making myself go faster and faster. A smile remaining on my face as I run and run.
I can feel my breath falling behind again. I don't want to stop. I want to keep going. I have to keep going. The lack of breath forcing me to stop. I mentally curse myself. I want to keep running. I don't fall to the ground this time, I stay standing with my hand lent on my knees. I wait impatiently for my breath to catch up again.
I breathe in deeply, taking all the breath I need and start running again. I know this breath will last forever, this breath will keep me going. I'll keep running forever. Thump. Thump. Thump. Further and further through the light, damp, green grass. Running. Running. Running…
I wake up with a start and can't stop the tears welling up in my eyes. Even the part of my body I can still control is out of my control. I sigh, the same dream, though nightmare may be a better word, that I've had every night since the accident. I long to lift my arm and wipe the tears from my eyes, but I know I can. I try knowing it's in vain, knowing I can't feel it, knowing I won't be able to. I can't move at all, save from blinking. Not since the accident left my paralysed from the neck down. Not since I ran straight into a moving car and it left me unable to run.
I want it to be real. I remember the feeling so clearly; running in the breeze and sun; running out of breath; running more. I just want to feel it again, the heat, the breeze, even the pain of trying to catch my breath. I just want to run. Please God, let me run.