A Chance to Breathe

Chapter V

The dawn was just breaking, casting a gentle glow over the quiet streets as I laced up my new sneakers. I knew for a while that running grounded me so I intended to do that in the mornings before school to clear my mind from the night's demons that came with sleeping. 

I stepped out into the cool air, the quiet of the neighborhood enveloping me. The rhythmic sound of my sneakers against the pavement was meditative, the steady beat comforting.

As I rounded the corner near a small park, I saw a figure in the distance, also dressed in running gear, stretching by a lamppost. As I drew closer, I recognized David, who was seemingly surprised to see me up and about at such an early hour.

"Good morning, Emma," David greeted me with a warm smile. "Up for a morning run too, huh?"

"Yeah, just trying to clear my head," I replied, appreciating the softness of the early morning light that seemed to smooth the edges of the world.

"Mind if I join you?" David asked, his tone casual. "I promise I'm not much of a talker when I run."

The offer was unexpected but not unwelcome. "Sure, why not." I said. 

We started off at a comfortable pace, side by side, allowing the silence to stretch between us comfortably. David was an experienced runner, his strides long and even, but he matched my pace without any sign of impatience. There was an ease to his presence that made it simple to run alongside him.

As we ran, the streets began to wake, the early morning light growing stronger, casting long shadows across our path. The rhythmic pounding of our shoes against the pavement was a kind of conversation in itself.

David occasionally glanced over, making sure I was keeping up without difficulty. Altough I grew up in this town, I didn't quite know a lot of this part of it so I was relieved that I sort of ended up with a guide. 

We slowed to a walk as we approached the park's exit, our breath visible in the cool morning air. "Thanks for the company," I said to David, genuinely grateful. "It was a good run."

David smiled, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "Anytime, Emma. It's nice to have a running partner. Gets a bit lonely pounding the pavement solo."

We parted ways at the corner, David heading back towards the house, and me taking a moment to stretch by the same lamppost where I'd found him. As I headed home, I felt a renewed sense of connection to my surroundings and the people in my life here. 

As I later approached the school, the events of the previous day weighing heavily on my mind. I spotted Ruby by her locker and made my way over, who welcomed with a smile.

"Hey, Emma," Ruby greeted cheerily. "How are you holding up today?"

I managed a small smile, grateful for her straightforwardness. "I'm okay, thanks. Yesterday was just... a lot," I admitted, not ready to dive into the specifics of my breakdown but needing to acknowledge it.

Ruby nodded, her expression understanding. "If you ever need to talk, or just escape for a bit, let me know. Actually, why don't you come over after school? We could hang out, maybe watch a movie or something."

The invitation was out of my idea about a normal Wednesday but I forced a smile on my face and agreed. "That sounds great, Ruby. Thanks." I  don't need to rush home to Neal, to make sure he's taken care of. Mary Margaret is there.

Throughout the school day, the interactions with my teachers and classmates felt unusually weighty, as if I were moving through a fog. Got more assignments then in a month in my old school. I was pretty sure I will fail half of my classes, and thanks to yesterdays little scene, everyone was just staring at me all day long.