Page 30 - North Haven Magazine Issue 24 Summer 2022

To Write,

or not to Write

by Nick Giordano
CHAPTER 3
First light was just starting to peek through the re-
maining leaves on the branches of the trees in the
woods where Larry was running. Yes, he thought,
I’m running again. Why am I always running? Why
do THEY always run? It’s all so futile. The result is
going to be the same. But this one is different. She
had a pretty good head start on him and it’s easy
to lose yourself in this part of the woods. Not much
action in here and very few foot trails. He stops be-
hind a big oak and tries to see between the other
large trees. It’s really dense here. He looks down
and sees he has no shoes on. Did he forget them?
He can’t remember when he took them off. He the deadfall skipping over the fallen branches like
hears something in the distance. Is it her or a bird? an elf from the Hobbit. The sweat is now pouring
Or an animal? It couldn’t be a hiker at this hour down his face and stinging his eyes. He wipes the
and in this part of the woods, could it? No matter. residual water deftly from his eyes without losing
He’s got a good idea of where she’s going. It’s not a step. He’s close now. He knows it. He can feel it.
light enough to see any footprints but there’s a few He can feel HER. And there’s that sound again. It’s
broken branches and signs of disturbance ahead of getting louder. It sounds like…no it can’t be. Maybe
him. There’s that noise again. It’s still faint but get- it’s HELP! No, it’s more than a word. It’s definite-
ting just a bit louder. What the hell is it? There’s no ly a sentence. What does it matter? He must keep
sense crying out for help. It’s way too secluded in moving. He hears rustling up ahead. It looks like a
here. OK…time to get moving. small clearing. He’s almost there. He pushes away
the last branches of the evergreen in his face and…
He picks up the pace a little and tries to avoid the
hazards on the floor of the woods but he catches his “Lar…wake up…please. You know I hate waking
foot on something. He keeps moving but he’s got a you when you’re like this but I’m really scared.
little limp now which slows his down. He’s still not Come on babe…please.”
concerned even though it feels a little wet down He opens his eyes and sees Monica looking over
there. Could be the mossy ground as it rained over- him. Like she has done so many times lately.
night. He is sweating now. He’s in good shape but
he is definitely working hard getting around and “I let it go for as long as I could. You were mov-
through the maze of trees and brush in his way. ing and thrashing too much. I’m really concerned
It’s a cool evening for early fall but he can feel the about these. They are happening more and more
sweat rolling down his cheeks. There’s that sound often. Please go see someone. They might be able
again. Louder still. It sounds like a word or a sen- to help you.”
tence but he still can’t make it out. Up ahead he
sees something on the ground. If he wasn’t looking “You know how I feel about talking to strangers
on the wooded shelf he might have missed it. It’s a about this Mon. I’ll handle it myself” as he strug-
piece of cloth. Must have been torn off on her way gles to remember what just happened to him.
through the area. There’s blood on it too. Oh well. A “I’m sweating like a pig. I’m going to take a shower.”
little prick through a dense forest is a small price “OK, I’ll change the sheets while you’re in there.
to pay for…He quickly looks down at his foot which They’re soaked.”
is starting to throb. He has to push through now.
Faster. There’s no real end to these woods here so As Larry Berensen retreats to the hall bathroom to
getting out of them is miles away and of no concern take a shower he does so with a slight limp. When
to him. It’s getting lighter which could help her he looks down he hears Monica saying, “Check
a little but he knows the area much better, even your feet Hon, the bottom of the sheets are covered
without a specific trail. He moves quickly through in blood.

North Haven Magazine - Summer Issue 2022
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