Home seemed like a far away dream. She was sure she would never get there. But she refused to stop running, despite her aching lungs and the needle of pain jabbing her side over and over. Even her legs betrayed her, thighs burning, tight calves sending waves of pain with every step. She welcomed it, opened to it, let it tear her down and push her deeper inside. The pain was familiar and she wanted more of it.
Her front door flashed by. She swerved into the yard, the sound of her thudding sneakers muffled by the thick grass. Emily took the deck stairs two at a time, flung herself in the back door out of breath and bathed in sweat. She found them in the kitchen, almost as she left them. More coffee. More quiet. But they both looked up when she entered.
"Honey, are you okay? What happened?"
