Panting

The night was quiet. The moon shone down, dusting them with innocence.  For a moment, she forgot she would be leaving this town in a few months.  Instead, she quieted her breath and smiled while she listened for footsteps.  She had played this game before.  So many years later, the game had not changed.  It was something she could rely on.  The rules were the same.  Just her body had changed. Somehow she felt monstrous in her small hiding place, trying to remain inconspicuous as he tried to find them.  She took a deep breath, gazing at her surroundings.  The open field looked different at night, like a sea, waves blowing in the wind.  The dew had already settled on the grass and twinkled in the moonlight.  The stars spanned overhead, overlooking the escapade and winking with amusement.  She would miss this.  Suddenly, she saw movement in the shadows.  Far away, people ran in the darkness and hid beneath a tree.  She realized this would be one of her last nights without responsibilities.  She let the moment wash over her.  Then, she heard the twig snap.  She glanced to her right and saw a flashlight.  She jumped from her place and made a dash for a tree, surprised at the speed of her reactions.  She heard the footsteps behind her.  Her breath became ragged.  Her feet moved on their own underneath her, taking long strides.  She was surprised at her agility.  Until, she began to run downhill on the wet grass.   Suddenly, her feet were sliding out from underneath her.  Her body slid down the hill, covered in grass and dirt.  She lay on her back, gazing up at the night sky, gasping, panting for breath, and laughing at her fall.  She had lost, she had been found.  As she caught her breath, she looked at her friends and their surroundings, appreciating they had a moment to feel like kids again.