My Light in the Darkness

Runner Day

I shifted uncomfertably on my feet as I waited in the porch of Thomas's house. He came on a run once in a blue moon, and today just happened to be another one of those days.

I looked around at the photos on the wall, something I did often, to look at the once happy family. Their smiles were genuine, real and unstaged. I envied that time. I traced my finger tips along the wooden frame of the portraite, trying to remember the family photos hung in my room. Just as I was about to move to the next frame, someone cleared their throat behind me.

At first I had their back against the wall, one arm across their chest holding them down, and the other holding a knife to their throat. Upon further inspection, I grew embarrassed by the fact it was just Thomas, not an attacker.

"Whoa there Abby," he chuckled, lowering the knife from his throat. He looked uneasy with our proximity, so I backed away.

"Sorry Thomas. You caught me off gaurd." I gave him a tight lip smile, one of which he returned. To save me from the awkward tension, he spoke first.

"That was impressive, where'd you learn how to do that?" he asked, mimicking my actions but only slower.

"I taught her everything she knows," Gabby interviened, coming from the kitchen with a devious smile on her lips.

"Yeah right." I rolled my eyes at her, but she wasn't all wrong. I did learn quite a bit from her and dad, even Aunty and Uncle. The only thing that someone hasn't taught me, was how to steal and how to parkour. After many failed attempts and many scars, I learned how to run long distances without tiring myself out, how to climb fences and gates fast, and how to jump from object ot object. 

"You got everything?" Gabby asked Thomas, starting their routine.

"You know it."

"Your knife? Gun? Backpack? Water Bottle? Food?" The list went on, Gabby thinking of more things he needed with him and him just saying he did. I knew that by 2:30 he would be asking me for water because he ran out. Typical.

"Babe," Thomas interrupted, "I got everything, don't worry." He gave her a genuine smile while taking her hands in his.

"I'm supposed to worry, I'm your girlfriend."

"No, it's my job as a boyfriend to worry and protect you." he argued. I rolled my eyes, but I had to admit they were pretty cute. Finally agreeing that they both had to worry, they cealed the deal with one of their small but meaningful kisses (I turned away).

"Can we go now?" I grumbled, still turned away from the happy couple.

"Awe do we embarras you?" Gabby cooed at me. I gave her a glare but she continued. "You'll be like this one day," she laughed a little.

I raised my brow at her, "you really think I'm going to find someone in this mess? Who doesn't want to kill me? Yeah, good luck." With that, I walked out the door.

Not even two minutes later, Gabby and Thomas were hot on my trail as I ran through the streets. Everything was quiet this morning, it was unsual for this day of age, but I let it slide for today. I turned around so I was running backwards, and I slowed my pace a little to let them catch up to me.

"Show off," Gabby snickered, but a playful smile was on her lips as she scolded. I shrugged my shoulders, not really caring what she thought.

"Where to first?" I asked. I took the occasional glance behind me to make sure I didn't run into anything, but other then that, I was smooth sailing.

"We will go and check any cars that look to be unraided. From there, we go and ransack any store we find. No big stores," she pointed out before I could celebrate. One time, two years ago, she let me go into a big store. As we looked around however, we were followed. We ended up hiding in the washrooms for three hours before our seekers gave up and left. We stayed there, croutched up on the toilets, for another hour, hearing nothing but our own heavy breathing and beating hearts. 

I shook the memory from my already clouded head, and turned back around. When I faced forward, however, I hit something- or someone.