The Day Little Red Riding Hood Made The Wolf Run.

It had been a long time since anyone had called her Little Red Riding Hood. In fact, she hadn’t been called that since she was a kid. But the name still stuck with her, mostly because of the red jacket she refused to get rid of. It was more than just a piece of clothing; it was a symbol of something she used to be—and something she had outgrown. Now, at 28, it was just a stylish, well-worn jacket that fit her perfectly, like a comfortable reminder of how far she’d come.

Red had built herself a life in the city. She worked as a graphic designer at a marketing agency, where most days were spent hunched over a laptop creating sleek designs. But at night, she usually ended up alone in her apartment. It wasn’t that she minded the solitude; it was more like she had learned to embrace it after everything with him.

The wolf, as she thought of him, was a memory that lingered a little too long.

Marcus was his name. He wasn’t always a wolf, though. At first, he was charming, funny, and everything Red thought she needed. He said all the right things, made her feel special. But over time, the cracks started showing. The little comments that seemed playful at first became cutting insults. His "concerns" about her friends and her independence turned into controlling behaviour.

Red didn’t notice it at first. She thought it was love. She thought it was something she could fix. But eventually, the sweet words turned bitter, and the man she thought she knew turned into someone unrecognizable.

It had taken years for Red to finally walk away. She had to pick herself up bit by bit, patch herself back together. She learned to trust herself again and realized that she was more than just someone who had to put up with him. The jacket, that red jacket, became her symbol of strength. It reminded her that she was capable, that she could make it on her own.

And today, she was going to make him run.

---

The Final Confrontation.

Red had moved out weeks ago. New apartment. New life. She’d changed her phone number, blocked him on social media, and even started going to therapy. Life was good—except for the occasional text from Marcus.

This morning, she had just finished her coffee when her phone buzzed with an incoming message. "Where are you, Red? You know I’m not done with you. You’ll regret this."

She stared at the screen for a moment, the familiar frustration creeping up her spine. He still didn’t get it.

Her thumb hovered over the screen, but she didn’t reply. No more playing his game. No more wondering if she’d made a mistake. No more apologies. She was done. He was done.

This time, there would be no “I’ll try to be better.” No fake promises. This time, Red was in control.

She grabbed her jacket, slipped on her sneakers, and grabbed her keys. She wasn’t waiting around for him to show up on her doorstep like before. No, she was going to meet him on her terms. It was time to end this once and for all.

“Claire, hey. I’m heading to the park. I need to do this,” Red said, dialing her best friend on the way out the door. Claire, who knew everything, understood immediately.

“I’m right behind you,” Claire said, already ready to drive over.

It felt good to have someone in her corner. Someone who believed in her. Someone who knew she wasn’t that scared girl anymore.

---

The Showdown.

Red parked at the trailhead, staring into the woods. This was the place—the park where Marcus used to take her when things were still good. But now, it felt like a battlefield.

She didn’t wait long before she saw him. Marcus emerged from the trees, walking toward her like he owned the place. The cocky smirk on his face made her stomach turn, but she held her ground. She wasn’t going to let him intimidate her this time.

“Red,” he called out, voice dripping with that same condescending tone. “You think you can just leave and pretend everything’s fine? We need to talk. You know that.”

She didn’t flinch, didn’t even look scared.

“No,” Red said, her voice steady. “I think you need to leave me alone. There’s nothing left to talk about.”

He laughed, like it was some kind of joke. “Come on, Red. Don’t act like you didn’t want me back. You think you can just walk away from this?”

She took a deep breath, the weight of everything she’d been through settling into her chest. She didn’t look away from him. She didn’t take a step back.

“I’m not that girl anymore, Marcus,” she said, holding up her phone. “Every threat you’ve made, every lie you’ve told—it’s all on here. So go ahead. Keep pushing. But know that everyone’s going to know who you really are. I’m not afraid of you anymore.”

His face shifted from smug to something else. Something like fear. He took a step back, his eyes darting around like he didn’t know what to do with himself. It wasn’t how she imagined the moment going, but it was perfect. He was losing control, and he knew it.

“I’m not playing your games anymore,” she said. “So, you can run now, or we can keep talking. But it won’t matter. I’m done.”

Marcus blinked, processing what she said. For a moment, Red thought he might actually say something else. Maybe even beg. But instead, he turned, shoulders hunched, and began walking away quickly. The cocky swagger was gone. It was just him, running.

---

A New Chapter.

Red didn’t watch him go. She didn’t need to. She had already won.

She felt a lightness in her chest she hadn’t felt in years. The fear that had followed her for so long? It was gone.

Claire pulled up beside her in the car, and before the door even clicked shut, Red was smiling.

“Well?” Claire asked, raising an eyebrow.

Red nodded, her heart full. “I did it. I made him run.”

And for the first time in a long time, Little Red Riding Hood didn’t feel so little anymore.