Politico

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Emily's POV

You don't fool me. I see you Emily. I can see right through you.

These words ring in my ears time and time again. I replay that moment over and over in my mind... feeling the exact same feeling each time I think about it.

For the first time in a long time, I messed up. I'm not foolish enough to lie to myself and say that I didn't mess up that debate. I wasn't prepared and I got cocky.

There's one thing for sure, that girl is far more complex than what meets the eye. She possesses depth unlike most people I have come across in recent years. She answered every question honestly and chose her words very carefully in order to make the most impact. She outplayed me. She made me and my family look unrelatable and clueless to the needs of your everyday American. That truthful exposure will prove to be detrimental to my mother's campaign down the line. This will take a lot of work to recover from and I can already hear my mother's disapproving voice in my ear telling me how much I've messed things up for her campaign.

The simple thought of this inevitable discussion fuels me to finish out my late night boxing rounds with my trainer Eliza.

"Damn Fields. Great workout. Have safe travels back home" Eliza says while wiping the sweat off of her face.

"Yea, 10 mile run ahead for me" I reply finishing off my water bottle.

"You're a beast. You ran 10 miles here, you've boxed for 2 hours, and now you're running 10 miles back home? Damn. Maybe you should be the one training me. Again, be safe" she replies with a sweet smile.

My mind is so preoccupied with my endless thoughts, I barely muster a thank you.

As soon as I left my apartment after the debate, I was hell bent on clearing my mind. Normally I would have turned to my usual alcohol induced numbing session but look what that got me the last time. No this time, I'm going to work myself ragged. I'm going to run till I puke and then run some more. I don't know what will stop me after that. Death maybe. It's not exactly like we're strangers.

So I run. I run. I run.

I run until the people in my periphery become nothing but a blur and the view of the setting sun before me is all that I see. I run until the ache in my lungs and the ache in my legs becomes a sensation not one of pain but one of something else entirely.

I can feel it beginning. That first flicker of release. Starting in my chest, it spreads outward until it reaches the outer crevices of my body as my feet rhythmically pound against the pavement, controlled breaths pass through my lips, and my eyes transfix upon the darkening skyline.

That's it....I've found it...That sweet release. I am completely numb and there's nothing in the world that could shake me from this moment of ecstacy.

In a split second, my world abruptly turns upside down as a horrific pain explodes along the left side of my body. Next thing I know, my body slams against the pavement and my eyes begin to feel heavier and heavier until everything goes black.

Soft hands caressing my face slowly coax me awake as my eyes flutter open for me to adjust to consciousness with an instantaneous roaring headache.

"Wh... what the hell happened" I ask still groggy as I try and sit up.

"No. Lie back. I don't want you to hurt yourself" a subdued female voice persuades as she carefully places my head back onto the street.

"You really scared me there for a minute Emily" the voice adds.

Turning my head towards the source, I'm immediately taken back by the origin of this voice.

"Oh God! In a city full of millions of people, it had to be you didn't it" I groan aloud.

"Thank you Alison for dropping your delicious Chinese food on the floor to rush over here and make sure I was okay" Alison replies in a snarky tone of voice.

"Oh you're quite welcome Emily. Seeing as I'm not a monster and was genuinely concerned for your wellbeing after seeing you get hit by a car and proceed to fly over the roof of it" she continues with a sweet tone of voice as she continues to smirk down at me.

"Whatever" I reply as I sit up holding my left side. Wincing in pain, I quickly realize that I've broken some ribs. "I deserve this anyways" I mumble to myself.

"What? How can you even say that" Alison asks with a confused look on her face.

"It's nothing" I reply as I stumble to my feet and begin to walk towards the direction of my apartment.

"Where do you think you're going" Alison asks stepping in front of me and blocking my movements.

"I'm fine. Please leave me alone" I respond as I try and move away from her.

"The ambulance is on the way" she replies. "You can't leave. All of these people saw it happen. They even saw the driver continue driving" she adds sounding angry.

"All the more reason for me to leave. I don't need this in the press. I'll be fine. I promise" I say pushing my way past her.

"You've clearly broken your ribs and God only knows what happened to your head" Alison says from behind me.

"I have a doctor I can see off the books. He'll take care of me" I reply as I turn around to face her. "Just please. Stop causing a scene. Don't make this bigger than it needs to be" I add almost begging her. "Honestly, thank you for dropping your delicious Chinese food and running over to check on me" I continue genuinely.

"Well clearly I can't convince you to stay but I'm going on record saying that you're out of your damn mind" Alison replies throwing her hands in the air in frustration and turning in the opposite direction.

Thinking she's out of earshot, she continues, "I don't even know why I bother. Alison, when are you ever going to learn?"

Watching her walk away like that makes my chest momentarily sting in response to the sight of it. However, that feeling quickly subsides as the pain of being hit by a car overwhelms my body once more.