p. 1

run with me a book of vignettes by terise.

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p. 2

i d like to thank jo emma and aubrie for giving me criticism and helping me improve my writing thank you mrs smith and mrs waterland for pushing me to my greatest potential.

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p. 3

missing michelle pushed past the immense crowd on the familiar bustling footpath of central new york her untied plain black sneakers made a slight slap as they briskly met the ground her burnt sienna eyes searched frantically around her with a racing heart she could barely breathe her mahogany brown hair was untidily pulled into a rough ponytail wearing a creased ripped hoodie her clothing failed to keep her warm in the deteriorating winter air though her shivering came more from nervousness pushing and shoving she yelled harshly for people around to get out of the way she searched methodically her little girl nowhere in sight her breathing was rapid her nerves tense she was almost in tears horrified that she may have lost her daughter in the hectic hustle around her kaylee she kept calling in vain but her princess didnt reply kayleeeeee she sobbed uncontrollably crumpling down on the pavement but no one looked at her too caught up in their own lives to care about hers she desperately hoped kaylee would hear her anguish and come running once again in her bright pink dress to give her another big cuddle but no such comfort came searching for what seemed like ages michelle systematically scoured every shop every room everything with no hope left she finally pulled out her mobile and called the police please help me my daughter is missing shes not missing michelle you know shes gone a gruff voice from behind her answered lets go home her brother sounded frustrated repeating the same words hed said daily for the past three months you need to stop i cant cope with this anymore michelle dropped her phone on the freezing cold concrete she cant be she murmured slumping onto the ground she just cant be

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p. 4

run with me run with me the three words that had just slipped from jason drew smiths mouth was all he had been thinking about the past few days now that the topic had been brought up his subconscious forced them off his lips his body desperately wanted to get them out of the shadows and onto the surface it was systematic w-what those words had now sent a wild hormonic rampage around kaylee brooke jones body her stomach erupted in a flurry of butterflies did he really want her to come with him if you want to i mean they both stared at each other with anxiety hopefulness and anticipation he desperately wanted her to say yes but she was stunned thinking about the possibility of running running away running away with him kaylee snapping out of it kaylees trance was broken she stuttered trying to find words to speak trying to calm her racing heart if you dont want to its fine did she really want to run from the perfect life everyone dreams of from the life everyone says shes blessed to have from the life that she despised of yes yes she did and she was about to do just as any sane person wouldnt she was going to run she was going to run with him.

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p. 5

goodbye airports she hated them sadness came over her like a wave washes over the sand pulling happiness away only leaving the miserable heartsick feeling behind she felt him squeeze her hand compassion sincerity and understanding seeped through his eyes but hidden behind his fake smile was the same suffering and hopelessness she felt he didnt want to go but he knew he had to as they parked in front of the terminal a lump started to grow in her throat he knew what she was thinking and felt the exact same way but as the others climbed out of the vehicle he followed still gripping onto his girlfriends hand like his life depended on it and it did he pulled his suitcase behind him the sound of the wheels rolling against the pavement had always annoyed him it was the sound of despair he played with her fingers moving them around it comforted him though nothing could make him comfortable in this situation he booked in his suitcase and waited to board the flight heartache this is it she didnt want to believe it couldnt though it was happening right in front of her i guess it is they stood in a tight embrace for many minutes just holding each other her perfume made him feel at home his cologne did the same she felt droplets fall from her eyes they made her auburn spheres reflect his burnt sienna ones please dont cry i cant leave you here when youre crying then dont go i have to she looked down at her feet not wanting to meet his gaze ill call you every day i promise you her orbs met his once again i love you he told her meaning it with every ounce of his body every little bit of him i love you too she meant it just as much they locked lips feeling the spark one last time not wanting to say goodbye he waved walking into the boarding gate with tears drowning his face hers was flooded silently flowing from her tear ducts as she waved goodbye to the most important person her life she only had one thing on her mind when would she see him again?

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p. 6

night ann marie james watched her step as she walked through the cobblestone floored alleyway in downtown new york her size 7 heels collided with the pavement making an echoing clack her hips swung side to side her dark blue skinny jeans moving with them ann marie was the definition of beauty her long brown hair curled naturally while sitting on her polka dot shirt that showed off her curves her arms were in the air her favorite song playing through the earphones connected to her brand new ipod touch she stopped in the middle of the alley using her best moves in what she thought was privacy she didn t hear the footsteps of the hooded figure behind her she didn t notice the slight shadow dull in the appearance of the nearly fused street light only did she notice the company she had with her when her vision was suddenly deceased and her voice was taken away by a cloth or two she tried screaming but the fabric stuffed into her mouth caught all the sound waves exiting her vocal cords she shed a tear as the cold hearted man dragged her into eternal darkness jackson drew mccan stood in a corner of the dark alley way in downtown new york he pulled a cigarette out from his pocket and flicked the lighter from his jacket he slowly lit the fag not wanting any light exposed blowing the smoke from his mouth he started to think how he would get his next victim he chucked the cancer stick on the ground and rubbed it in with his old supra s from years ago he waited in the dark corner watching the street light flicker the sound of heels hitting pavement passed him as he watched the girl dance to the music from her ipod knowing she couldn t hear this was the perfect opportunity he pulled a blindfold or two out from his jacket and snatched her from the light into the dark corner he had stood in just before tonight he thought will be a very good night

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p. 7

if only it d last the soothing sounds of the breeze rustling the wind chimes roamed through her opened balcony door gently opening her eye lids she watched as over the horizon the white water sprinting in a race to the shore letting oxygen into her body yindi could smell the fine scent of the ocean the aroma sent her into another realm her teleportation was interrupted by the sizzling of the barbecue burgers tonight the salty fragrance vanished as the mouth-watering redolent of beef patties crackling on the bach grill rose into the clear summer air yindi licked her lips at the thought of her taste buds devouring the juicy meat needing to quench her sudden thirst she ran inside to pour herself a tall glass of soft drink the bubbles popped in her mouth dancing on her tongue foxton fizz was her favourite drink you drink that all the time her brother chuckled amused at his little sisters addiction to the rare soda only sold around these parts thats because i like it she took another sip the liquid making her instantly happy she was buzzing jumping around she ran to the backyard her feet sinking in the overflowing sand that filled all backyards in the beach-based town her feet rose and fell the breeze flowing through her bare untrimmed toes the temperature had dropped slightly from previously making the air cozy and bearable the burgers were cooked buns out of the bag and into the bowl and toppings on plates ready to serve the only thing left was yindi yindi dinner leaping out of her seat her toes felt the thin sand grains in between each other once again she ran into their beach house her senses eager for a mouth-watering burger eat up kiddo yindis senses tingled at the juice leaking from the beef pattie wrapped in lettuce tomato cucumber and white bread buns she honestly couldnt remember the last time food tasted so good maybe it was because they would be her last burgers before she was admitted to hospital before she died a cool draft flew through the open doors leaving an icy feeling on the tip of yindis head it felt alien it felt new the feeling of wind on your scalp no hair to protect it like them nodding yindi sent her father a thankful content grin they collected the plates placed them in the dishwasher and set off for a relaxing walk on the shore even though she knew she was going to die shed never been more happy she was with the two most important people of her life in her favourite place in the world nothing could be better if only itd last.

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p. 8

nika the precipitation harshly fell over the dust-bowl farm something it needed kobus stared at the trickles of h20 racing each other to the window-pane rain in africa city folk wouldnt believe there was a storm brewing over the karoo but here it was drowning his crops in their favourite food and giving his dog a well-needed shower he ran to his home for shelter you wouldnt want to be outside during this he pulled his door handle toward him but the old wooden frame stayed closed puzzled he pulled again stuck he rummaged through his pockets frantically searching for his ring of keys empty looks like were stuck nika nika kobus 4 month old labrador barked at the sky wanting to challenge this thunder she knew nothing about but when the thunder replied with its pounding rumble she immediately ran to her master calm down girl she lay on the rough wooden planks lining the deck licking her masters toes kobus enjoying the tickling sensation of nikas tongue stared at the tree branches swaying in the breeze it was clear that they would be swept off their feet sooner or later wheres that spare key the lightning connected with the ground like two magnets pulling each other together bolts were coming from every direction finally mother nature was making nikas heart pound she needed to get inside fast she hid between her masters feet making him jump throwing the key in the air and a few meters out in the storm nika you damn dog you made me drop it terror came over nika suddenly her masters legs werent the safest place on earth anymore he was angry trust needed to be regained she ran out into the rain determined to find that key nika come back she sniffed for the scent of metal not thinking about the killer storm overtop of her nika suddenly out of no where the lightning connected with the earth once again this time it hit a beating heart a soul a being it hit nika.

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p. 9

why why her heart broke at the sight of the picture sitting in a frame on her bedside table her mother had vacuumed that day straightening up in her room and evidently placing a picture in her previously empty frame unfortunately her mother had chosen the most heart-wrenching picture in the collection why she stared at the grins plastered on each and every face in the photograph genuine and true they were it was a happy moment bright yellow and orange flames were sparking in the background melting pitch black blobs of marshmallow drooping from the skewers they were clutching in their palms in the middle of an outburst of laughs the picture was taken with a satisfying click why heartache was the only outcome from the picture it was a happy memory but resulted in sadness she missed them that was her only statement why why did this feeling have to keep coming back why did they have to be so far away why that was the only thing she could ask think feel ever since they left and she would be feeling that for the rest of her days shed be feeling empty and there was nothing she could do about it.

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