I breathed in rasping, hurried breaths, as I felt the tendrils of death seeping into my lungs. From there it spread to my heart, which pumped death’s dark touch to my limbs, where it sapped my strength. I slowed my run, and allowed my body to sink to the hard asphalt of the trail. I was uncaring of the pebbles that dug into my knees, or the rock that pressed into my palm as I leaned forward and tried to cough up the death. It had come upon me so suddenly, shooting into me through my ears. I reached up to feel if my ears were bleeding from the words spoken. My hand came away dry. Did I actually think that words would make me bleed? I rolled over on the ground, onto the grass that bordered the trail, I layed on my back, and waited for my strength to return.
The words must have been something meaningful. Something that mattered to me, if only I could remember.
26 miles did weird things to the body and mind. I hung my head between my knees, and closed my eyes, a headache was starting to build. My teeth felt hollow, and my head felt like I had blank spots missing in my brain, where the void of unconsciousness seeped in, tempting me. The words hurt, but I couldn’t even remember what was spoken. My fingers were cold and sweaty as I ran my hand through my hair. My stomach was colder, a weird side effect of pushing your body so hard for so long.
The darkness in my limbs wasn’t receding, I looked around, but this part of the trail wasn’t near any town. Wait where was I? Maybe the holes in my brain… were larger than I thought. I tried to stand up, but was stunned as my limbs wouldn’t respond. Why… Darkness wrapped around my mind.
I awoke an hour later. And things hurt. My right leg was aching like it got run over, and my left arm was wrapped in bandages, and blood seeped from one. It was in a sling across my chest. I stood and looked around, the trail was still empty, what had happened? I took a step and my right foot gave way, and I crashed to the ground, accidentally rolling on my bandaged arm. It exploded with pain, as my foot smarted. I screamed in pain, but mostly I was surprised. I was no stranger to pain, but this, this would keep my mind locked in my head. And so I cried out of fear, if only I knew, how much more I should have cried.
I write by Starlight 