Reader fiction: 2km makes all the difference

Maddie put an arm over her head, trying to ignore the light as it split through the venetian blinds, stippling her room with golden shafts. When she’d woken earlier, she’d reached for her phone. Not a great idea, for she’d lain motionless for a long time, the lines on her forehead tightening like scratches on glass. 

Outside the sun shifted and a beam of brightness moved to tickle her nose, and even though her eyelids remained closed, she felt the glow of the day.  

‘Blast,’ she said, heaving herself up, the duvet falling away from her heavy limbs. She sat on the edge of the bed, rummaging underneath for her runners. Dusty and worn, they’d seen better days. From the laundry basket, she pulled out leggings and a fitted yellow top which after a pause, she exchanged it for a baggier blue one. Might as well be comfortable.

In front of the hall mirror, she pulled her hair into a ponytail. Her reflection frowned at her. She grimaced back. ‘I know my roots are showing, for goodness sake!’ she muttered, searching in a drawer until she found a bandana which she tied it around her forehead. 

‘Billy!’ she called. The scrabbling of paws could be heard racing from the kitchen. Billy, tail wagging, slid to a halt at her feet. She clipped the lead onto his collar and opened the front door. 

In the bright sun, she squinted down the cracked concrete path and the square of lawn dotted with dandelions.

Ugh, I’ll have to cut that.

Beyond the gate, lay the neighbours’ gardens, the trees and parked cars along the Drive, and the neighbour’s kid out on his bike. She grunted and dragged herself to the gate, yanking it open. Stepping out, it swung shut behind her, clanking in protest. 

I don’t want to. I really don't want to.  But Billy pulled on the lead, and with it her arm as if to say ‘Come on!’ She ran after him. By the time she got halfway up the road, she was gasping for air.

This is such a mistake.

She took a few more steps. The tendon in her right leg felt tight. How could this be a good idea? 

But her runners kept hitting the pavement, and Billy galloped ahead.  A weird pain niggled her ankle.

Just to the corner, she promised herself. 

At the corner, Billy pulled up for a wee against a cherry blossom tree. Pink petals floated about them. And he was off again.

Okay, only as far as the park and we’re not going in.

They reached the park gate and the view of the open space drew her in. Sure we’re here now, might as well go in for a bit.  

She let Billy off the lead. He galloped after the sea gulls and she took the outer circuit around the green playing fields. There was a man and son scooting a sliotar at one of the goals. Billy took a leap for the moving object.

‘Hey you, sod off!’ called the man. 

‘Billy!’ she called and he came back to her and trotted along beside her, like he was a well trained mutt which she knew he wasn’t.

That dog - why do I bring him anywhere? 

Suddenly Billy stopped and circled around, hunching his body. Maddie sighed and took a shopping bag from her pocket, shaking it out. Off they went to the bins where Billy’s contribution to the world was deposited. 

‘One time only, Billy,’ she whispered, ruffling his unruly mane. ‘I don’t have another bag with me.’ He seemed to understand and stuck to widdling at regular intervals. 

They ran around the park a second time. The man and boy had gone. They were alone now, her and Billy. A sheen of sweat glistened on her upper lip. Billy wove a path in front of her. A bird flew past with a twig in its gob. Yellow daffs bobbed in the breeze. A step, a step, a breath. Her runners were a blur in front of her, moving to the beat of her breath.

Back at the park gate, Billy sat as Maddie put the lead back on. ‘Come on Billy Boy, let’s go home,’ she said, giving him a pat on the head. 

They ran side by side, Billy’s paws clicking on the concrete, through the back lane, the breeze bringing a smell of fresh cut grass, out to the Drive, down past the pink of the trees, and the neighbour’s kid, still cycling.  

‘Maddie!’ the kid called as he pulled his front wheel up, doing a wheelie along the quiet road.

‘Cool!’ she shouted, waving to him. 

She clinked open the gate. In the front garden, a bee buzzed from dandelion to dandelion.

Maybe I’ll leave the grass for a bit. There’s no rush. Maddie shook out her shoulders, and like the daffs in the park, she swayed in the light breeze, closed her eyes and let out a long breath. 

Emma lives in Hollywood, Co. Wicklow. After many years of business writing and online editing, she now writes her own stuff. It's the most challenging thing she’s done. She’s had a few short stories published and a first draft of a fantasy novel sits in a drawer. Someday soon she’s going to finish that. Check out her blog https://thewicklowwriter.wordpress.com/