I Imagined

Chapter 1

AMARA

She was buried underneath the covers, breathing only from a small hole formed around her hands in the blanket. Through her sleep and dreams her breathing was heavy, becoming quicker as the seconds passed; quick enough to wake her. Sitting straight up in the bed, throwing the covers off her chest and into her lap, her breathing continued to be ragged. One hand was placed on the bed, the other on her own chest, trying to slow her breathing to a steady, healthy pulse. While feeling her heartbeat she sucked in a large breath, holding it for a second before letting it out. After doing three more breaths her breathing finally steadied, enough to where she laid back down in the bed, the covers still thrown down by her legs. She stared at the ceiling, admiring the fan as it hung, she was still thinking, thinking about what had woken her.

The sound of footsteps shook her from her thoughts, causing her to turn her head quickly and sit up when the bedroom door opened.

"Amara, you're awake." Her mom, Danielle said, walking into the room.

"Yup." Amara shuffled around in the bed, starting to slide out. Turning her back to her mom she tapped her phone, the screen lighting up, showing the time to be ten-seventeen. She took both hands and brushed them through her hair, fluffing it up as she stepped down from the bed. "I'm going for a run." She said.

"Ok, be careful." Her mom responded, leaving the room.

"I will." Amara whispered to herself. She went over to her dresser and grabbed a pair of leggings and a sports bra. She pulled off her pajama bottoms and pulled the leggings up. After which she threw off the oversized t-shirt and pulled the bra on. She then headed to the closet, where she picked a dri-fit shirt and pulled it on, flattening the edges down against her skin. She then headed out of the room, pulling the door open slowly, listening for anything as she did. Nothing. Everything was quiet in the house. She walked down the hallway to the bathroom, using the facility and also pulling her hair up into a high ponytail, pulling the baby hairs out for style. Lastly before heading out she grabbed her phone and some earbuds and headed down the stairs towards the front door, her shoes placed next to it. After her shoes were on and tied she yelled out to her mom.

"Bye mom, be back soon!" There was no reply but Amara left anyway, leaving the door unlocked behind her.

The date was September twenty-second, the day of the week being Sunday. The weather had been nice in the most recent days, the temperature starting to drop as the arrival of fall became closer. The sun was out and some clouds floated by, but the air was overall warm, warm enough for shorts. But Amara wore leggings just in case.

She popped in her earbuds and started playing her playlist labeled "Happy". She walked down the driveway, past the mailbox and started running.