Page 89 of Rome: The Ballerina

I shoved my AirPods in my ears as I neared the gate. Slowly, it began to separate. I jogged in place as I waited for it to create enough space for Koen, August, and I.

Checking to make sure they were near was pointless. They were never too far away. Though they weren’t fond of my early morning runs, they’d grown accustomed to them over the last few weeks.

They hardly had a choice. If there was nothing else I did before sunrise, I ran. Every morning. No exceptions. Running for me was like swimming for Teddy. It was something I had to do. Something I couldn’t fathom a day without.

I found my footing on the paved road, hoping the bright vests August and Koen wore would alarm drivers and prompt them to steer clear of our path. The winding road climbed with each step we managed. The incline made the burn better. Unwanted calories didn’t have a fighting chance.

You said you wish I had a little more patience

And, I just wish your heart was vacant baby

Tell me whose been staying lately

When I call you don’t call back

I hummed, lowly, mentally articulating every lyric ofEver Everby Teyana Taylor.

I turn into autumn, then I fall back

My heart rate tripled in speed. Though my legs kept moving, everything inside of me halted. Words no longer played in my head. I could no longer hear the sounds coming through my AirPods.

As the distance between me and the parted gates lessened, the figure standing between them became clearer. Still, I remained focused. Or, tried as best as I could, at least. I felt like a track star with a dropped baton as I passed the long, slender frame with legs that never ended.

My chest tightened and my breaths quickened. I had just started the twelve mile run and asthenia was already squeezing my lungs. Slowly, my eyelids slammed together. When they reopened, I was prayerful that my line of vision didn’t include the alarming presence.

Upon reopening them, I realized my prayer had been answered. However, a new issue had arisen. The smell of deodorant spread my nostrils by a full inch. The sight of blacktennis shoes patting the ground mere inches from me set fire to my limbs.

I pushed a lump of air down my throat. Settling my heart became a pointless journey. My chest imploded with uncertainty.

I’d been anticipating this very moment, the moment I could set my legs free and allow them to uncage my mind. Unfortunately, they couldn’t serve their purpose because an imposture was amongst us. And, I was struggling to figure out if they were beneficial or hazardous to our mission.

Curiosity plagued me. Involuntarily, my head turned ninety degrees. Beside me was the man that visited me more often in my dreams than any other person, place, or thing. And, just like when I closed my eyes and envisioned him, Saint was stellar. He was beyond this world.

Unearthly.

Unreal.

Unbelievable.

Extraterrestrial.

A light, airy laugh parted my lips. I could feel a soft breeze against twenty four of my professionally polished and maintained teeth. My smile faded as Saint’s arm extended in my direction.

His fingers curled around my AirPod, taking the right one into his hand. Passing cars and the sound of nature waking greeted me. Chirping birds. Mingling insects. The rubber of tires. Feet pressing against the pavement.

Still, Teyana Taylor entertained the other ear. The dissection of me with those amber eyes felt so unnecessarily cruel. I accepted my fate as I took him in.

“Good morning, Rome.”

Dark.

Deep.

Condemning.

His baritone shook me to the core. I stole fresh air from the trees around us, hoping they’d provide enough because with each passing second Saint was depleting my lungs.

“She doesn’t speak–suddenly,” he teased.

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