Runaways

It was too late, it was already planned. They both had cold feet, as cold as they could get. They were pushed to follow through by friends, parents, aunts and uncles. Siblings, cousins and grandparents. “Its okay, you love her don’t you?” “He’s the best man you’ve ever had, isn’t he?” “You guys have been together for so long...” “Getting married is the right thing to do.” “Don’t be silly, everyone gets nervous...” And before they knew it, the day finally came. Up at the altar, down in the pews, family and friends, waited and waited and waited. Upstairs, in separate rooms. All dressed, and ready to go. Her in the beautiful princess gown and him in his expensive black tux. Looking out into the night. The sky reflected off of the black ocean. It was an abyss, a black hole, a scary mystery. It was what they were about to do. “If you’re in too deep, your stuck forever!” rang in their ears as if someone had screamed it at them. With fear in their hearts, they burst through the doors, into the windy summer night down to the beach, to the ocean’s edge and with sand in their toes they ran. Ran far away from it all, from the pressure, from the guilt, from the fear, from each other. Down the beach they went in different directions. And they kept running. No, looking back. No, turning around. Scared of what might happen. Maybe if they looked back, their family would be chasing after them. Maybe if they looked back, they would see their fiancee chasing after them. Maybe if they looked back, they would have regret. But they didn’t look back, because running felt right. The wind pressing against their faces, their hearts speedily pumping, the adrenaline rush. It was the rightest they had ever felt. So, they continued to run, not knowing what was next.