Saving Grace

• Savannah Proud, Grade 11
• Short Story
• 2016

“Left, right, left, right,” the words continuing from my mouth in a string of breathless murmurs. Seeing no cars in either side of the street I pick up my pace turning the corner into the grass pushed into a path into a bush.
Going for a jog helps clear the mind, at least that’s what the internet said, so does a hot bath and cooking but fresh air is what I’ve been craving lately. Blonde hair blows into my deep blue eyes, blurring my vision. Coming to a stop I take in my surroundings. Thin, white trees are scattered across knee high grass, sand and red dust blanket the ground, holding sand flies and other little critters.
Taking each headphone out of my ears I take it all in completely. Gentle wind, leaves and branches waving against each other, footsteps, waves crashing. I snap my eyes open, as the footsteps slow down but get louder. My head snaps from side to side, my body into a defence stance as I pivot around to find nothing but trees.
Looking up and seeing nothing but stars open through a curtain of leaves and branches. Deciding that it’s time to go back home, I spin around and take a few steps, coming to a stop as I see movement behind a tree only a few metres away.
“Hello?” my voice wavers a bit at the end, “hello, is anyone there?”
Fear grips my insides, telling me to run for dear life. Though I ignore my pesky instincts and keep walking; each step feels like I’m walking on hot coals. That’s my first mistake. Leaves start crackling under heavy footsteps, stopping me abruptly in my tracks. My breathing stops when a hand grabs out towards me; my second mistake. My third, final and worse mistake is not running right there and then, but even by then it was too late.