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Description
Beads of sweat role down each heated face, gliding over perched lips.  Everyone is gasping for air, but still they go onward, despite an aching side.

There is no red flag at the end, no prize, no applauding crowds.  The truth is, there is no end at all.  The road continues on and on, with not a single sanctuary, resting grounds, or a place to call home.

Humanlike apparitions sprint all around you, each as worn as the next, each pushing forward.  It does not matter how long one has been traveling, the trip is onerous to one and all.  No one is strong.

Mindless you continue in this race of time, chasing after a dying wind.  What lays ahead, what drags behind, both unknown.  There is no room for thoughts, and this alone you are glad of.  To think would be to know, and knowing is unbearable.

As you speed along, you see standing before you in the distance a small figure.  Squinting you try to see what sort of obstacle this form could possibly be.  You become shocked as you realize this object is really a person, a woman, standing still.  She waves her hands in the air, trying to slow you down, beckoning as if she wishes to have a word with you.  In fear you press on, thinking this to be a trick of sight.  Closer still you come, and just as you pass her, the woman grabs at you, pulling you towards the ground.  Terrified you scramble to get up, but with no use.  You are weak, and this person has a relentless grip.

For the first time in years you are able to speak and you scream to be released, but all in vain.  As the last bit of your strength quickly runs dry, you collapse to the ground, drenched in perspiration, yet shaking as if you are freezing cold.

When you finally regain conscious, you see standing above you a blue-eyed angel, staring into your lonely soul.  You start to crawl away, still shocked and horrified, but this lovely creature reaches out a gentle hand to lift you up.  Stupefied you slowly, nervously accept the offer and allow her to lift you to your blistered, battered feet.

Years of silence seem to pass, and just as you are about to turn and walk away, this beautiful woman whispers ever so softly, "Why do you run?"  Confused, you turn and give her a questioning look, but she simply answers it with a smile and repeats her calm words, "Why do you run?"

You stare blankly, in an utter lost for words, unable to comprehend.  Somehow thoughts find their way back into your head after being suppressed for so long.  "Why do I run," you wonder...but all that comes to mind is a broken childhood, numerous demons, and lonely corners of dark rooms where you used to hide.  All you can think of is that maybe down the road there may lay more than failed promises and ghastly scars.

As your mind wanders through each dusty cabinet, uncovering every lost memory, you soon forget all about the angel in front of you.  Suddenly you feel something warm embracing you, and all the white noise is silenced as you find yourself in the tender arms of the angel.  You soon realized your eyes had told her everything and she had understood flawlessly.

Overwhelmed, you fall limp in her arms and you begin to weep uncontrollably.  You drop to your knees, and she drops down beside you, holding you tighter still.  You shed a tear for every step you took down this never-ending, forsaken road.

Through blurred eyes you see the angels hands cupped under your bowed head, and in it lay every single fallen tear.  But there was something more.  Rubbing your eyes, you look closely, and there, floating atop all your tears, lay your heart.  No longer was it shattered, but placed carefully back together, and what was once filthy was now cleansed by your very own tears.  The angel looks up at you and says, "Beautiful, isn't it", and than she clasps her hand tight to her chest.  Shame-faced you look down, but the angel lifts your chin with her fair hand, gazing into your hazel eyes, and says, "I know," as she leans in and kisses the last tear that was finding its way down your cheek.

For the first time, you knew someone genuinely cared and wholly loved you.

Now, aren't you glad that I stopped you?