Slow Down

I saw her running away from her house. Tears streaming down her red cheeks. A terrified yet angry expression on her face. She didn’t even look at me. She just ran. Thinking quickly, I followed her as fast as I could. She seemed immensely frustrated. She always runs faster when she’s mad. I could barely keep up with her.

I knew where she’d run. To the tall oak tree in the middle of the park. She’d climb up it. Then she would sit on the highest branch that she could reach. Watching the sunset. Waiting until the stars came out. Sometimes, she’d go there to cry. I knew that she wouldn’t want to see anyone tonight. That she would want to be alone. 

Still, I decided to go through a neighborhood and cut her off. As I ran out into the grassy park, I felt a chilling breeze tickle my spine. Where was she? She should’ve been there before me. Frantically, I spun around to look behind me. Then I saw her tall, slim silhouette approaching quickly. She was looking up at the sky. Why wasn’t she watching where she was going? How could she know that she had reached the tree if she wasn’t looking? She needed to slow down! She needed to watch. She should’ve slowed down... If only— she’d slowed down