As she stopped to catch her breath, she looked back. One hand shielding the setting sun from her eyes, vague animated images appeared in the distance. Loud shouts repeating, “stop the thief”, filled her ears. Confusion reigned, yet, legs and lungs leapt into action with machine like precision powering a forceful forward movement. Quickened breathing, faster pulse, strides shortened meant her speeding along in time to duck into a hiding place among thick, thorny bushes. Quiet settled in with her slower heart rate and breathing. Through the branches she saw the blossoming posse party yelling and running by as dusk arrived.
Whew! Now what? What to do? Turn around, run or stay safely put in the coming cover of darkness. What had begun with someone breaking down her apartment door as she fled through an open window dropping to the ground below now left her in hiding. Who branded her a thief? Is this mistaken identity or thievery done in an earlier brief fugue state? Soon, recognizing the impossibility of answering such a simple question using only her memories generated further bewilderment.
How do I find my way back to my life before the chase began? Departing in haste meant that she only had “the clothes on her back” and no means of distant communication. Her life of meals, walks, writing poetry and times with a small circle of trusted friends seemed distant. First, she must determine her location since her helter skelter, somewhat unconsciously done running, left her guessing. Staying hidden, she let her eyes peer upward to see any tall objects piercing the darkening sky. The town’s water tower was visible to her right with its portly appearance indicating proximity. Her friend, Lucy, both lived and worked near the tower, so that seemed like her best bet. Is this a real life nightmare or is this real life?
As she stopped to catch her breath, she looked back.
She could see all the way up the gravel path to the looming castle on the hillside. The sun glittered off the stained glass windows in the towers. It was rather surprising how pretty they looked from this side of the wall, so far away. She closed her eyes and imagined herself back in small round room at the very top of the tallest peak. Through her mind's eye, she turned around the room and took a final look at all that lay before her. She smoothed down the crushed red velvet of the chaise with her fingertips and leaned her back against the cold hard gray stone of the walls. She walked over to the small dresser and picked up the golden hairbrush, pulling it through her auburn tresses one last time. She stood on the braided rug next to her bed, straightening the blankets one last time. She looked up at the rectangular windows out of reach high above her, filtering out the brightness of the sun, keeping her in a constant state of dullness. She gazed at the heavy wooden door, shut and locked tight as it so often was. Sighing, she opened her eyes again and stared at the castle from her spot on the path. It looked smaller somehow. She turned away and continued down the hill. Soon she turned a corner into the trees, and the castle was out of her sight for good.
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