On Fire

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Nessa

I pushed through the trees in the direction I saw Stanley run. I can hear David calling after me from behind my shoulder but I haven't answered him in a while. I continue running, crushing the leaves underneath my feet, and snapping twigs. Then my foot hit a big rock covered in grass and instantly gravity took over. My face kissed the ground and my knee scraped against something sharp.

It was only a moment later when I could feel David's body leaning over me. I released all my pinup frustration with a deep breath. David's hand rested on my knee.

"Are you okay?"

I was trying not to look at him so I closed my eyes. The breeze rustled the leaves crunched underneath my ear. Something tingled against my toes and my foot moved self consciously.

"Come on Nessa. Let me help you up. We should head back. I know you have to be hungry by now. You never were much of a breakfast person and I know we missed whatever lunch they had planned."

My stomach grumbled instantly and the emptiness became overwhelming. I opened my eyes and reached out for him. He offered me a smile once I was on two feet again. I ignored it, too focused on the stinging scrape of my knee.

"Here, Nessa. Just ride on my back." David walked in front me and kneeled down with his back facing me.

"What are you doing David? Get up." I half heartedly laughed not really believing him.

"You looked really concerned about that knee and besides, I'll get us back to the cabin in no time at all."

I almost smiled at his corniness and shrugged whatever I felt toward him away. Grumbling and groaning, my stomach was the other deciding factor. I walked up to his back and wrapped my arms around his neck. His hands slid underneath my legs and I felt the coolness ease away. His thumb swirled in a circle in my skin making body tingle.

When my stomach whined loudly, he steadied his hands and lifted me into the air. I tightened my arms across his chest, not remembering it being so tight. David started trudging toward the path.


Dozens of thoughts were running through my mind. I was thinking mostly about Stanley. He had said some things that made me feel like he didn't need to be alone at the moment. Even if he wouldn't accept it, he had to know that everyone wouldn't attack him.

I must have been wrapped up in my own thoughts because David interrupted my train of thoughts by loudly clearing his throat. "I never got the chance to congratulate you for making it to graduation."

For some reason I was caught off guard like I wasn't expecting him to be interested in my normal life. Or more like I was escaping reality and David brought all the anxiety about the future back in the front of my mind.

"Thank you." I was hoping he would leave it at that but I never had such luck.

"What do you think you are going to do? Knowing you, I'm sure you have all your next steps written out." I could feel the grin appear on his face.

"Well you will be the first to know that I have no idea what I'm doing next and have been dreading thinking about it."

Before I could even brace myself for his response, David didn't miss a beat. "That's okay too. No one is an expert on being prepared for life. This uncertain Nessa is sort of refreshing."

"You might be right." His words washed over me like a cooling waterfall. My anxieties left me again and I had decided that my future was unknown and I was okay with that. For once, I was going to see where the wind took me.

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