Run Darby Rupp
Breathe . Footfall after footfall . Breathe . Focus on the pavement , the passing houses and trees , the cool autumn air around , the pink sky with the rising sun . Breathe . A car passes by . The driver is touching up her makeup , maybe a morning routine . Why ? Does she get up too late and not have time ? Does she try to escape the house as quickly as possible ? Breathe . A cat slinks out from behind a house ahead and to the right , then runs across the street . Where is it running ? To another cat ? To a better house that gives more food ? Away from a predator ? Breathe . Pass by a window . A frazzled mother in a business jacket and skirt is shouting , trying to get her daughter to gather her school things so they can leave , while she pulls on her high heels and puts on her earrings . The child , through another window , is unhappily packing her school bag . How often does this happen ? How often does this child feel alone ? How often does she feel misunderstood , or unloved ? Breathe . A man is running on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road . Stop . No , don ’ t stop . Breathe . Breathe ... Run . Breathe . Feet on the pavement , one after another . Breathe . There ’ s only so far someone can run . From their house , from their problems . Yet people run . Do they ever run anywhere ? Breathe .
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