“The Eyes Chico; They Never Lie”

He is staring into my eyes, glistening with love and warmth for me. A warm feeling settles in my stomach, and all I can do is grin. It’s true what they say – the eyes never lie. He smiles, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer until we’re face to face. “I love you,” he says, pressing his lips to mine and drawing me in even closer. I melt into his arms, my mind a sunny, blossoming summer day, my thoughts going haywire as my whole system shuts down. The only thing I can think of and feel is our bodies and souls fusing as he whispers in my ear again, “I love you so fucking much.”

–

“You ruined me,” he says in a low tone, staring blankly and crushing my soul with his words. His gaze feels like it’s going right through me, piercing the wall behind me as if he’s scanning for any reaction. His eyes are dark and cold, boring through me with endless hatred. I’m scared. We’re alone, and he’s angry at me again. I remember what happened last time. Why am I not enough? My thoughts race, playing out every possible scenario. What could I have done differently? Snapping out of a trance, I ask him, voice shaking, eyes filled with tears, and a tightness in my throat: “What did I do to ruin you?”

“YOU JUST DID,” he answers.

–

I run. I run and run until I can’t breathe anymore, but at least I’m free. Running is hard, and I hate it. It makes my whole body hurt, but at the same time, it makes me feel alive. The familiar burn in my lungs reminds me that something is still left inside me, filling the emptiness. My brain goes quiet, and I focus on not dying due to a lack of oxygen while running. For once, the thoughts stop racing and the voices go silent.

–

Everyone should run. It doesn’t matter whether you just started running and still struggle to run for five minutes. Someday, you are going to be able to run a whole marathon. It’s all about starting and believing in yourself.

–

Be brave and bold, and change the world.