Hollow | h.e.s

1 - "why run in the fog?"

in loving memory of charles goodman

1962-2009

he must have been a good man, cara thought to herself. she chose to sit near his grave since she liked the idea of him being a good man. the thought of him gave her inspiration to write in her notebook that she carried everywhere she went. once she got out her notebook, she rummaged inside her purse for a red pen.

"ah." she said to herself as she triumphantly pulled one out from her side pocket.

she wrote about things that would make someone a good man like getting off work on time and heading straight home to hug and kiss his wife and children (if he had either); remembering to send a card on every family member's birthday; picking up a toy that a young boy dropped as his mother rushed him out of the grocery store. her thoughts were interrupted as she saw a man in athletic wear out for a run. but in the fog?

hoping to go unnoticed, she continued scribbling down more qualities of a good man until the man walked over to cara.

"shit." she mumbled under her breath, stuffing everything into her bag and preparing to leave.

he got closer to her and cara realized he wasn't a man. he looked about her age even. the guy her age unplugged his earphones.

"hi." he said quietly, looking her up and down. cara would've dropped everything and ran but he looked harmless. or maybe that was his attractiveness seeping through.

"hello." she squeaked. in her mind, she cursed because she probably sounded weak or nervous.

"why are you out here? it's cold and... foggy."

"i've got thick clothes on."

"i can see that. and here? why hang out in the cemetery?"

"why run in the fog?"

he instantly gulped. loudly in fact.

"clears my mind."

"i could say the same about being here."

"it's a bit morbid to hang around dead people, don't you think?"

"whatever."

cara couldn't help it. she was born to be sarcastic and moody. this guy made her moody. he had a billion and one questions about how she spent her day today. but somehow, she was growing to like him.