OPAL

I only stop running when my lungs burn like crazy to the point where I can't breathe anymore.

I hold onto a tree, taking deep breaths in order to calm myself, and that's when the sobs just bubble right out of me and spill into the air around me.

Covering my mouth with my hand doesn't help. The sound comes out choked. Goddess, I don't even know why I'm crying when I'm pretty sure I cleared my mind some twenty minutes ago as I was walking along the edge of the forest.

I told myself I ...