Just About Everything

No.1 - THE RACE

Okay, so this is the first of (hopefully) many short-stories based on song lyrics. As I said earlier, you won't know which song it is. You can guess, but you don't have to.

Each short-story will either have some of the lyrics mentioned or I'll just use the feelings I get from the song as an inspiration.

I'd also like to remind you that English is not my first language, so please, be patient with me.

Anyway, that's about it. Time to get started.

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THE RACE

Something doesn't seem right. He's getting anxious. He told her to meet him here, near the fountain, but he's been sitting here for hour and still nothing. Not even a text from the phone he gave her exactly for situations like this one.

The paranoia starts to consume his every thought. What if it happened again? He should've taken her with  him, no matter what. It would be better than this uncertainty. If something happens, it's going to be his fault. The mere thought of not being there for her again is killing him.

He looks at his phone for what seems to be like the fiftieth time in the last ten minutes. Still nothing. No text, no missed call, nothing. This is not normal, she would've contacted him, wouldn't she? She knows how much he worries. especially after the last time.

God, he shouldn't think about it, it's not going to help. But the memories can't be stoped. The well known film in his head is well past the opening credits and no one is here to stop it.

Her small frame, the fragile look in her eyes when he found her hiding in the corner. She looked so broken, he had no idea what to do. The hunger for that monster's pain and the need to ease her suffering erupted in his brain simultaneously. He wanted to kill him. He still wants to kill him for it. How can someone be so heartless and twisted? To have him suffer through the same things he's done to her would not be enough. And to think that she made him promise not to say a word about it. He should've done something about it a long time ago.

He can still remember every single bruise, cut and scar she had.

No, he can't stand it any longer. She made him promise to wait for her and to not come looking for her, so what? He's out of his mind with worry and he knows. He just knows that something is not right.

He gets up from the bench, finally done arguing with his subconscious. She will be there and she will be alright, he says to himself. You just have to believe it.

He looks around for the last time. He has to make sure she's not waiting for him. But the park is nearly empty. No one's here, except for some old lady feeding pigeons near the fountain.

He turns around and starts jogging to his car. She will be alright. She will be alright, resones in his mind over and over again. But it doesn't feel right, he doesn't believe it.

Finally, he unlocks the car, jumps in and tries to start the motor with trembling hands. On the third try the car roars and he gets out of the parking space, tires squealing and leaving the park's gates in the dust behind.

He's speeding and completely ignoring everyone else on the road. There is nothing more important right now than getting to her and making sure she's ok.

Soon, he turns left and is driving past the familiar neighbourhood. The trees by the side of the road look almost like an impenetrable wall of green and brown leads, given the speed the car's moving.

There! The brakes are screeching as he sees the building he's looking for. He stops the car and is out in a second. He locks the car in a run, not even turning to see if it's locked. He runs up the stairs and collides with some old lady and her dog in the doorway. He doesn't stop. Time is running out. He has to make sure. He needs for her to be alright.