Let's Run Away Tonight

Silence. I hear only my rhythmical breaths of cool air, and the light squeak of my shoes against the cement. It is a little past midnight and I am running at a slow and steady pace, away from the audacious and wide roads I live on. A light and slightly warm breeze passes by, jolting me back into reality. Rationality accompanied by its best friend, fear, slowly creep into my mind again. What if I get raped? What if I get lost and can't ever find my way back again? I quickly shake my head. There's no point pondering the dangers now. Following my heart, I run towards the darkness in a quicker and more determined pace.

As I leave the glare of the fluorescent street lights, I find myself approaching a narrow, gravel path, glowing with the shadow of the mild moon. Bushes and trees begin to appear on both sides of me — wild, untrimmed, yet beautiful in their own natural ways. And so I run, for seemingly eternity, until I lose sense of all time and space. Finally, the bushes melt away and the path comes to an end. I gasp and halt. My breath is taken away, not just because of all the running but also because of what I'm seeing. In front of me lies the long awaited freedom, independence, and levity, all disguised as an open and limitless field. Still in awe, I cautiously walk into the field. Gently, I let myself fall onto the damp and soft grass, smelling the green. Above me, the infinitely tall sky watches over, decked with billions of tiny stars. Slowly, I close my eyes and prepare to let myself loose. Sure enough, soon I feel something burst open within myself. The rage, pity, and grief I had stored inside for years are finally surging out. My chest starts to heave and my hands curl into a tight fist, grabbing a handful of fresh grass in the process. I can't take it any longer. I squeeze my eyes and take a deep breath.

And then I scream. I scream for the justice that has never been just. I scream for our self-destructive democratic government. I scream for the people who have hurt me, though they never knew. And finally, I scream for myself: my failure, my losses, my hollowness, and my hopelessness. I let it all out tonight; my emotions inexpressible through coherent and cogent words. I scream until my throat parches dry and my eyes stop bleeding years. My high-pitched agonies still remain ringing in my ears, until they eventually echo away to the ever so watchful sky. I take another deep breath, this time of relief and feeling light-weighted. Then I smile at last.