Page 1 of Run with Me

The smellof burnt flesh lingered in the air. I closed my eyes, remembering the flame’s heat on my skin when the fire stopped me in my tracks. I had focused on the blaze that was consuming my family home, wanting nothing more than a giant bucket to tilt from the heavens, but it didn’t. Each time I took a step forward, the flames’ heat would force me to take two steps back. The inferno simply wouldn’t let me move any closer. I couldn’t get to my parents intime.

I was helpless.

I opened my eyes and lifted my head to look up at the cross above me. My knees dug into the wooden bench as my weight shifted. A single tear escaped from the corner of my eye at the memory of their screams. It had been four years since their death, but it still felt like it had happened yesterday.

The sound of a low hum, almost a buzz with an occasional hiccup, drew my attention to the small window, and I pushed one of the colored glass panes to the side. The approaching blue car sounded like it was about to give up onlife.

I waited as the stranger pulled up to the front door and the swirling dust settled. I shifted my attention to the left of the front entrance, where a man wearing a suit was stepping out of a beat-up Dodge.

Who wears a full suit in August in Arizona?

My initial instinct to laugh was doused by a strange feeling in my stomach. I wouldn’t call it the fluttering of butterflies, more like a stampede of raging bulls headed straight for me. My stomach twisted into a giant knot at my sudden realization that this stranger stepping out of the car had to be part of my life; because if he wasn’t, then I’d rather stand still as the bulls ran overme.

I held my breath, watching him approach with confidence. I knew he couldn’t see me yet because it was too bright outside and too dark in my family’s chapel, and his sight wouldn’t have had time to adjust yet. I took the opportunity to assess the power that he carried on his feet. It made me want to run away from him, yet at the same time be closer. He held a mysterious tension in his jaw as he stopped and looked up, shading his eyes with hishand.

He’s reading the quote I chose for my parents: “Learn from yesterday, Live for today, and Hope for tomorrow.”

He gave an exuberant smile, and I gasped. I’ve never seen such a set of perfect teeth. Mine were close to being nice, because I’d seen Mr. Garcia pull out a molar with a wrench once, and I’d never missed a day of my hygiene routine since that incident.

A dry gust of wind blew through the side window, gently grazing the back of my neck. An unexpected chill passed through my body, and just as fast, it was gone. Feeling the sweat stream between my breasts, I fanned myself. The stranger stepped over the threshold and removed his sunglasses. I felt my mouth open in awe at the brightness of his eyes. The green color was a rare sight in these parts of the country, as unique as mine. They drew my attention like a pair of emerald stones. Owning gemstones in Pace was dangerous.

“Hi,” he said with surprise. “I didn’t think I’d run into anyone outhere.”

It took me a moment to remember where Iwas.

“Hi,” I replied. We stood there for much longer than appropriate, two strangers from two different worlds, in a small chapel in Arizona, assessing one another. A new sensation passed through me: a need to make sure that this wasn’t the first and last time we saw each other. The pull toward him forced me to take a step forward.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

He looked around, as if confused.

“I’m not sure. I’m on my way to Los Angeles.”

Yeah, I should have known. No one ever came to Pace on purpose, not unless they had an ulterior motive.

“Oh, you took the wrong turn off 10. It’s two hours back that way.” I pointed in the direction he’d comefrom.

“Two hours? What if I keep going that way?” He pointed toward my town. “Some guys at a gas station told me it’s a shortcut.”

“They were probably trying to pull a fast one onyou.”

“Why?”

I shrugged. “Because there’s not much in the way of entertainment around here. And guys like you” – I looked him over, noting the shining Rolex underneath his cuff – “well, you’re entertaining. Plus, you look like you have money. One way or another, if you continue that way,” – I pointed toward my town, a mile or so, south of the chapel – “someone will rip youoff.”

“Well, I got an asshole before.” He took a step closer to me, and the atmosphere shifted. It became hotter, though I didn’t think that was even possible, and my mouth dried. “Even a bastard. But not entertaining.”

It was as if he hadn’t heard a word I’d said. The thugs who’d sent him off course were probably already in touch with their buddies in town. Mr. Visitor would stay at our local bug-infested motel and would wake up without a wallet or clothes. And since Pace was the only settlement on this road, our guests didn’t have much choice.

His left brow lifted in a way I hadn’t seen any man’s lift before. He was amused. “What are you doing in the middle of nowhere all by yourself?”

I shook my head. I wasn’t the one who waslost.

“It’s not nowhere. I used to live here,” I replied.

“In a chapel?”

“It used to be a house. My parents’ house. They farmed these lands.” I pointed out the window, where the fields once filled with crops now bloomed with wild sunflowers in their memory.

---