Blisters

Thud-Thud.

My feet crunch the gravel

Thud-Thud.

My heart pounds in my chest

Thud-Thud.

My lungs grasp for air

Thud-Thud.

No need for rest

I ran and she laughed

“How could that be fun”

I laughed along too

rubbing blisters on one

of my toes which was bleeding

from the miles which were

painful and long,

yet none could deter

me from taking, no one,

Not even her

Thud-Thud.

My feet are now sore

Thud-Thud.

My heart quickens its pace

Thud-Thud

My lungs have a harder time running this race

Thud-Thud.

She loved to walk

and walk yes she did

I’d slow down my pace

we’d match strides, it is

a bit silly, I know, to lessen your speed

but she’d smile and I’d tell

Myself it was worth it, her love was all I need

Thud-Thud.

My feet are now bleeding.

Thud-Thud.

My heart pumps blood to my ears.

Thud-Thud.

My lungs and their gasps are all that I hear.

Thud-Thud.

I told her I’d like to run a race

and I swear, you should’ve seen the look on her face

a laugh and a smile took the place

of her grimace that had recently filled up that space

Thud-Thud.

I can’t feel my feet

Thud-Thud.

My chest is numb

Thud-Thud.

My breathes come in wheezes

Thud-Thud.

I see the finish line, it’s almost done

I won! I won!

I crossed the finish line

and looked around to see

if that friend, who was mine

was waiting for me

at the end of my race

but I see no one

not even her

no smile on her face

--

My feet stopped their pounding of gravel beneath

--

My heart ached as a muscle that’s hurt

--

My lungs let out sighs that escaped as I breathed

--

All of this lasted until the day I saw her

walking besides a new, slower girl

shortening her paces and looking to see,

if the girl was smiling, the one who wasn’t me.

Thud-Thud.

My feet still have blisters and continue to bleed

Thud-Thud.

My heart loves to run, or so says my heartbeats

Thud-Thud.

My lungs catch my breath sometimes when I see

Thud-Thud.

Myself in the mirror, with a smile on me.