Run.
You stop. You look up from your phone, laughing. You just read a post on a website that says that you (the reader) have unintentionally done something unforgivable to the one who wrote that post and they set out to kill you (the reader). You shake your head, shrug your shoulders, and keep scrolling.
A voice whispers in your ear, “Run.”
You look around, surprised. You think you heard a voice whisper in your ear, but you figure that it’s just the wind. You make a mental note to stop watching horror films at ungodly hours.
You go back to your phone, opening Facebook this time. As you scroll through it, a notification pops up.
RUN.
You stare at the message, not sure if you actually downloaded that Run app that you said you’d get about a week ago. This must be a reminder you made to help you change your habits. You dismiss it with a slide of your thumb. Yeah, right.
You get up and stretch, yawn a bit. You look at the work in front of you… then think about getting some McDonald’s. Yeah, that sounds good, you tell yourself. Just one bite and you’ll get back to work, you promise. You grab your phone, your headphones, and your wallet… and notice a sticky note on it with a single word sprawled across the paper. RUN.
You crumple up the note and shake your head for your past self’s poor attempt at motivation. You head out the door, thinking about the greasy fries you’re about to eat. You put on your headphones, look for your favorite playlist, and press play.
Runaway – The Corrs
Next
Run Run Run – Junge Junge
Next
Run – AWOLNATION
Next
Run – The Ransom Collective
You were about to hit next (man, you really tried), when you notice that…
You’re still reading.
You didn’t actually open Facebook nor get up nor even played any music. You’re still on the same website, reading a post that says that you (the reader) have unintentionally done something unforgivable to the one who wrote that post and how they set out to kill you (the reader) and how the narrator has been attempting to get you to stop reading and RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.
You shiver. You look back at the post and scroll through it. Somewhere along the lines, the word RUN sticks out, and you finally consider paying attention to the narrator.
You’re going to do it. You’re going to run now. This is it. You’re doing it. You’re about to get up and run like you’ve never run before…
But it’s too late. You’ve reached the end. You can’t stop reading, and thus can’t start running. Your inevitable death looms ahead as you think about who the one who wrote that post is, what unforgivable thing you’ve unintentionally done, and how you’re going to die any time now.
All because you didn’t run.
–
Image source: deviantart.com/vitellan/art/Run-157369885
First written June 20, 2017.
#16