Chased

Loping along... then brusquely accelerating… then jogging, dashing.
As collisions of pavement and sole occur more and more often,
A spark is lit at the bottom of my lungs.
Glancing back, furtively at first, fear begins to wax in my heart, in my brain.
Growing in my chest, in my stomach, the flames shorten my breath.
But on I sprint.
Trepidation —the only coherent emotion.
Little consolation are the furry darlings that joyously jog with me.
Little consolation is family.
Dark figure, harbored by the shadow of the trees, gains and gains
Ten feet away.
Seven now.
Five.
Closer and closer.
Nearly caught up, reaching out.
Wide eyes and gasps only last a moment before I sigh and relax with relief.