Always Adam

Chapter 9

When I wake up the next morning, I realize I need to get out of my apartment. As much as I like living here, I'm still adjusting to be alone all the time. I put on a pair of sweat pants and sweat shirt. I pull my hair up into a ponytail and head out to take a walk or run. I still have no idea how safe the neighborhood is, but I need to get out. Back at Donna and Teds I could walk or run anytime day or night and it was safe. I use to run all the time.

Once outside I look around at the surroundings. I turn to my left and start walking. I walk down to the first street and turn left again. After walking a couple blocks up, I find a nice neighborhood. There I turn right and take off running. I jog for a couple blocks before deciding to walk again. I stop when I come across a small playground. I smile and cross the street. It's a cute little playground. There are a couple picnic tables, swings, monkey bars and a seesaw, which I haven't seen for years.

I jump up on the merry go round. This place is awesome I think as I put a leg down and start running. Once I'm going fast enough I hop up and stand with my arms out to my sides. I close my eyes and balance myself as I spin round and round. When it slows I hop off dizzy and fall to the ground laughing. When the sky stops spinning, I stand back up. I look around hoping to find something I can use as even bars. The end of the monkey bars could work for me.

I skip over and pull myself up. It's small and tight, but I can't stop myself from flinging my legs around the bars. I flip over and drop to the ground. I realize it's too small to do anything fancy on. I take off running and do a couple cartwheels. I'm tempted to do a front flip but decide against it. It's been a while since I practiced, and this was not the place to start. I realize how much I miss gymnastics. The sudden activity after time off already has my muscles screaming. The thought that my cheering days are over makes me sad. Damn Mike I think as I take a seat on the swing. I want to blame him, but in the end I only have myself to blame.

I pull out my ponytail holder and shake my hair out. I stand up and start walking back the way I came. I stop, put my hair back up and run the rest of the way home. When I arrive home, I am tired and out of breath. I decide to start running either every morning or in the evening. I'm out of shape and I don't like it. I was always fit. I always did some type of exercise. Whether it was dance, kick boxing, gymnastics or cheering. I was always active. I realize I'm starving and head to my kitchen to find some breakfast. I settle on a bowl of cereal. I sit down in front of the television and find something to watch while I eat.

After I eat, I decide to take a nice long bath. I can't remember the last time I had taken a bath. The warm water and bubbles sooth my muscles that are starting to ache from my earlier performance. I close my eyes and fall asleep. In my dream I am all alone wondering through dark woods. I can't find my way out. I keep walking but it seems I am going in circles. I hear a noise and start to run. I can't breathe. I wake up suddenly coughing. I realize I slid into the water.

I wash and get out. I brush out my hair and head into my bedroom. Wrapped in my soft robe, I lay on my bed. I fall back to sleep and wake after two. The new apartment is great, but with no friends to hang out with or Olivia to entertain, I find myself bored. I dress in sweat pants and a t-shirt. I decide to take a drive just to check out the area. I liked the little playground I found earlier. It could be a good route for me to run in the mornings or evenings.

I drive around for a couple hours checking out different areas and making a note what I can find in each. One road opened up to a couple small stores and a couple restaurants. There's an ice cream store that I had to stop in and try. I sit at one of the small tables texting Julie while I eat a hot fudge sundae. It's so good. Julie has already made some new friends and is going to a party tonight. Jealousy sweeps through me. I try to one up her by telling her about my little party tonight. I realize that I would much rather be with Julie tonight.