By Katelyn Forschler, TIWP Student

My legs are sore from running. I haven’t slept or ate in days. I don’t even know what day it is. The city has grown further into the distance. A small speck of light illuminates its existence. Now, the only thing around me is sweeping trees, shouting owls, and the crisp crash of waves. I can’t turn back. The organization wants me. They won’t care if I’m dead or alive by the time they find me. By now, they’ve probably discovered that I stole the hard drive. They are probably looking for me at this very instant. But I can’t move any further. I am trapped by the coastline. I take a moment to soak in the cool breeze. My hair moves with the wind. Will this be my last day of freedom? Instantly, my thoughts are interrupted by voices. “Where is she?” one says. “She couldn’t have gone far.” Panic engulfs me as I look for an escape route. My only option…down. I swallow my uneasiness as I look down at the cliff. Behind me, footsteps echo closer. I begin scaling the rocks. The men above me have just arrived at the coastline. I ease my body into a crevice in the rocks, disguising myself in the cliff. “Do you think she jumped?” one says. “No way! She couldn’t have made that. She is probably hiding within the trees.” Once their voices disappear from my earshot, I finally breathe. At this moment, fresh air has never tasted so good. Quickly, I fall back into reality and swiftly move down the cliff. I descend until my feet grasp the sand and my body is released from the rocks. I take one look back at the cliff, turn towards the beach in front of me, and run as far east as my feet will take me. I am never coming back here.