Reunited

The scorching heat was suffocating. Sweat was dripping down my body while I ran for my life. Every step sent a flood of pain through my sore feet, but I had to keep running.

Every second that passed, he came closer. The time it takes me to run 5 meters, he runs twice as far. I wish I could stop time. Press pause, stop running and catch my breath for a minute. Create a head start before the clocks start ticking again.

I met him a long time ago, several years must have passed. Today we were reunited.

He stood at the platform, waiting for me when I got off the train. When I saw him, I was happy. Our arms enveloped each other in a bone-crushing hug. But that’s when I remembered. The conversation we had when we last met, right before the closing doors separated us. What I told him the second before slipping away to a different city, a different life.

I remembered my hand, reaching out to his shoulder before I retreated to my seat. He remembered too, he must have. For when I turned and ran, he followed.

And we were still running. We must have gotten at least a mile from the crowded train station. I took a turn into an alley, just to stop in my tracks. A brick wall at least twice my height hinders my escape. It’s too late to turn back now; I could already see the shadow of my incoming doom approaching around the corner. Panic spread through my veins in sync with the rushing adrenaline. I could hear my heartbeat, pounding in my ears.

With a lump in my throat, I stand back against the wall. Tight fists, leaning forward to defend me. Rumbling laughter, his laughter, hits me as the shadow comes around the corner. His quick steps turn into a walk, and he stops in front of me.

“I thought I had taught you how to get away when someone is chasing you, sweetheart.” He said, sending me a crooked smirk. I couldn’t help but smile at the nickname he reserved for me so long ago. He always said it as if it was the most important word in every sentence.

“You taught me how to get away if you have a map.” I spat the words at him, my reward was his laughter. He was closer to me now. Almost too close. The memory of the last time I saw him was playing on repeat in my mind. My hand, his shoulder, running to safety on the train. The look of betrayal in his eyes, as the words ‘I will get you back for this’ rolled off his tongue. Back then, I had smiled and stuck my tongue out at him through the window as the train started to move. Now, I flinched back into the wall as he stretched out his hand to touch my face.

“Please, I beg you. You don’t have to do this” Was my plea. He shook his head, still sporting that crooked smirk.

“Oh yes, sweetheart, you of all people should know that I have to.” His hand steered away from my face, down on my shoulder. He bent his head down until his lips tickled my ear.

“Tag, you’re it. Sweetheart.”

The words sent a breeze into my hair. Suddenly my best friend was running out of the alley.

“Catch me if you can!” He ran away, laughing, speeding around the corner and out on the sidewalk. I let myself sigh happily before running after him.