Collie
I ran for my life. I was running down the street I had run several times this month jumping over the bins left by a sweeper, outrunning them, as it seemed. I could hear childish wide steps as you don’t run when you’re jogging. There were three of them today. I almost believed I’m gonna outrun them this time when I was hit by one of them appearing out of nowhere. As I was falling down I realised that he cut short, of course. He hit me in the solar plexus so I couldn’t breathe for a while. While I was gasping for air, they took me up from the floor and roughly brushed the dust off my suit.
“Ok now, run better next time.” Said the tall one and spit on the floor. They all tapped on my shoulder and left. I was still trying to catch my breath staring at them as they slowly disappeared in the crowd.
It started two weeks ago. I didn’t know why they were following me and what they wanted. Every time I was on the street alone they were following me. The first times they were hitting me, telling me to run for my life, so that’s what I’ve been doing basically. I was running from them, I was shouting for help. People were assured that they were my friends for some reason.
I was running when I went out for dinner. I was running when I was going to and from work. I was running before a meeting with friends. I always looked around and they were there, running after me. And every time they were able to catch me. Every time they said I should run better. The first week I kept asking them who they are and what they want from me. And every time they just ignored me.
That was happening over and over again. I got used to it, if you can get really used to always getting sweaty and thirsty. I learnt to carry around a bottle with water and a spare t-shirt. I started wearing snickers everywhere, for god’s sake, me!
Until that one time. I’ve been getting ready for it for a couple of days. I’ve been taking random people as a company so I could study the roads. In a couple of days I found a secret passage and the next time I was going to my English lessons, I decided to take that opportunity.
I stood before my door and took a deeeep breath. As I got out, I immediately started running. They saw me, stopped talking and were startled. I ran as fast as I could. I cut short using the secret passage over the building. I resisted the temptation and even then I didn’t stop, I kept running and running. Finally, I reached my destination.
I outran them. The win. I was standing before the door to my English school. I leaned to it, and closed my eyes. I was so proud of myself. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, opened my eyes and a scream burst out of me. It was the tall one and he was smiling. “Good job” he said. “No running anymore”. The others came seconds after him.
“What do you mean?” I said. He repeated “no running. We’ll leave you alone now. Live your life.” He stepped away.
“Wait! Why were you doing this? I’m going to the police and you’re going with me.” I tried to grab his hand. He calmly took my hand off him. “Do you really want to do this? Look how fast you can run now.” He grinned. “Come on man, it was a joke, now we are going to leave you alone. Isn’t it what you wanted?”. They all were smiling at me. They didn’t seem that scary now. “Do you know me?” I asked. The tall one (which I was always scared of the most) started to look bored and he said “let’s go, boys”. And so they left.
As I stepped out of the building after my lesson I realised I was free indeed. I walked out with caution but they weren’t there. Not later in the street. Finally, freedom.
A week later I was walking by the same street from my English lesson.
Then I felt goosebumps on the back of my neck, remembering that feeling of being followed.
I looked around with a hint of fear and hope.
Then all of the sudden I started running.
And laughed.
After a block I saw the tall guy running. I winked at him. He winked back and pointed at a guy. I knew what to shout from the very beginning. I took a deep breath, looked at the boy and we shouted “Run for your life.”