The green rushed by as I stretched my legs to the fullest and ran on, always running. I knew I was running from something, I just didn’t know what. I wanted to turn around and yell at the thing chasing me to stop, to leave me alone, but I couldn’t. The blood was pounding in my ears and my chest ached with the labor of breathing, but I ran on. The scenery passed by at an alarming rate, from green to brown to gray, and yet I kept on running. Small pebbles cut into my flailing legs, but there was no one to complain to, no parents to run to. Finally, I skidded to a halt and turned around to see… nothing. Nothing and nobody, just myself. I am lost and there is no home to run to, no family to comfort me. Just me.
And then I woke up, gasping as if I really had run all those miles. But no, I’m in my bed, in the same house I’ve always lived in… and yet it doesn’t feel right. It’s as if the dream is true and I’m lost, lost forever with no one to turn to.
I have to run. The world is green, grass all around, too tall to see, just go! They’re chasing me, they’re coming, keep going. Can’t breathe everything is dirt is grass is sky go go go - run! Escape. Don’t look back. They’re coming, they’ll catch you, be afraid. My chest burns I can’t my legs hurt I can’t stop I must I must -
I snap awake. Shaking frozen can’t -
Inhale. It’s okay. Exhale. It’s okay, I remind myself, it’s okay it’s okay.