I sprint along the path in the woods, carefully dodging low branches and protruding roots. Every thud of my foot falls feels like a bounce into flight. The trees rush past me and I barely register them in my peripheral vision. I feel like any second, I’ll start soaring!
I can’t hear the other students anymore, and soon, Coach Winston and the group of freshmen runners are lost in the distance behind me. Now that I’m alone, the silence of the forest is overwhelming. At first, I only hear my footsteps and the dry leaves crunching under my feet. I start to get nervous and remember the last time I was running, lost, through the woods, Al on my heels and Taylor thrown over my shoulder. I look around me for anything I can recognize. I see a floppy red bow tied around a tree, and smile at Coach
