the Bad Run!

Around 7:30, feeling a bit restless…need to get out of the house.
Change into running shorts…going out for a run.
Sick of running around the neighborhood. Blah.
Jump in car--will head over to local park; no also boring,
4 times around is a 10 K. Boring.
Going to greenway, through the woods, by the river.
Get to parking lot, a few vehicles, some kids on their bikes.
In position, I start my run, good energy tonight; temps are cool.
Run by what looks to be a family…walking in groups together.
Last minute stragglers.
3 miles to New Haven. Trail empty. Nearly.
Beyond the river bridge, low by the ditch, I surprise a walker.
He jumps, I say ‘sorry’.
Over the railroad tracks, into the anchoring park, through the woods to the parking lot.
3 miles done, turn around.
That was approx 23 minutes, plus. Must be 8:30, at least.
Back through the woods, same path, just reversed.
Over the tracks, down down down, into the ditch.
It’s dark.
No telling what is out here in the dark.
Rabid dogs? Wild frat boys? Hooded movie delinquents?
Damn, it’s really dark!
Out of the ditch now, onto the bridge. Car lights, street lights.
I hesitate…no phone, damn it, just keep going--it’s the only way home.
Down again off the bridge on the trail, leading into the woods.
Another two and a half miles. Easy.
Into the woods, away from the road. No headlight beams, no street lights.
It’s dark.
Mind going wild, creating weird scenarios.
Think dummy; what were you thinking? It’s the stupid unthinking that kills.
The woods clear a little, next to farmland; river on the left.
Can see the reflective still water. Tree shadows on the water.
Coming up a sparse grove of trees, growing in flood plain.
Very little undergrowth, plenty of cover for a marauder, river on left.
Dogs, raccoons, murderous sorority girls, intent on doing murder.
Try to occupy mind by thinking of flowers. Good grief, that’ll never work!
Go with it, imagine the worst.
Another dense stretch of woods ahead. No sign of the road. No lights.
River, dark and deep, to the left.
Will be attacked, beaten, dragged and drowned in the river.
Adrenaline is on high alert. Control your breathing, slow your feet down.
Long strides, pumping arms, more woods, the river, the river!
Over a boardwalk, no ogres jump out. No screaming maidens I’ll feel obligated to rescue.
The ogres have big fingers, they can’t tie up their victims.
Ogres peel off the outer layers of their victims, starting with the clothing, which they eat.
To keep their food from running, they secure them with a downed tree, or a rock.
Or they eat off their legs.
Keep it together. I’m running faster than ever before.
A clearing, I can see the road. Across the road are the soccer fields.
The park’s lights are bright, must be games going.
Next to the trail is a wall, beyond that the vegetation is thick, can’t see anything, it’s dark.
Up ahead, one more long stretch of woods. The river is still there. It never left.
If you have anything left at the end of your run, then you didn’t give your all.
Will my all be good enough? Not trying to win a race, fighting for my life!
Out of the thickest of the woods, the river veers off, another boardwalk.
Parking lot ahead, breaking free of the woods.
My feet stop, airborne, I’m falling.
Left arms flies out, left knee hits grounds and I hit pavement.
What, but I am relieved at first, I can move, I try to sit up.
Left arm won’t support my weight. I wiggle off my side push up slowly.
Dazed, think I hit my head. My head throbs. My arm is numb.
Almost there, around the next corner is the parking lot.
The soccer fields bright lights hazily fill the upper voids.
Up onto my knees. Panting. I am panting. Shaking.
My breathing is easy, I am not panting, my heart is pounding.
Something else is panting. Sweat drips loudly to the asphalt.
Push up right armed to feet, move ahead. Walk. Faster. Trot.
Run!
My right arm is pumping, left side is numb. It tingles now.
I am running all out, both arms pumping, no pain, adrenaline.
The lot, my car, my red car.
I fumble at my zipper wrist band, pull out the key.
It fits neatly into the lock, I climb in, pull shut the door.
Lock the door.
Above the trees the full moon shines brightly.
Under the canopy it was unnoticeable, but made the river into a winding glowing snake.
Shift into drive and pull ahead, headlights piercing the woods, shining onto the trail.
A shadow, bent onto the greenway, wobbling, stretching its claws, disappearing into trees.
Take me home car. Never again.