Diane’s POV
I was desperate for air—air in my lungs and flowing through my hair. I had to keep moving, because standing still in that crowd felt like being suffocated. Whenever I paused, the memories would flood back. So I ran; it was the only thing I could think of.
The ground thudded beneath my feet as I pushed forward, surrounded by the vibrant sounds of nature. No one chased me, and no one ran beside me. It was just me, my hair whipping in the wind, the earthy scent of damp soil and crushed leaves, and the memories I longed to escape.
I vaulted over a fallen log, urging my legs to pick up speed. “Faster,” I whispered, willing my body to move. The path ahead blurred into streaks of green and brown as I narrowed my eyes, focusing on the way forward.
“Faster!” I urged myself.
The fre
