Running with Scissors

As I ran with all my might, I felt waves of enthusiasm reverberate through my body. The summer breeze rushed across my face as I sped through the sheltered woods. I could hear the sound of Peter’s steps growing louder.

“Gotcha!” Peter exclaimed as he grabbed the back of my shirt. We both came tumbling to the ground, roaring with laughter.

After catching my breath, I said, “Ya know, I liked this game a lot better when I stood a chance at winning.” Despite him being the youngest, he was faster than any kid at the orphanage. “Seriously, Peter, it won’t be long until you’re breaking world records.”

He was glowing as he began to brush off the dirt from his tattered clothes. “Come on, we better get to the bus before Ms. Schultz has a fit.”

On the last Thursday of every month, we got to go on a day trip somewhere. Everyone was always raving with excitement on the bus ride over. It didn’t particularly matter where we were going because anywhere was better than Oakley’s. In the outside world, we got a taste of what it was like to be a regular kid living a life of adventure and freedom. Back at the orphanage, we were shackled by the knowledge of being parentless, a reality we knew could last forever.

Oakley’s was an orphanage for children aged six years or older, and everyone knew no one wanted to adopt an old kid. I had spent the last seven years at Oakley’s, and I was convinced I wouldn’t call a new place home until I was old enough to be on my own.

Although we all felt the misery of not having parents to love us and guide us through life, we found a family in each other. Most especially Peter and I; he was the closest thing I ever had to a brother.

Peter was only seven years old, so I hadn’t given up hope that he would be adopted. Sometimes late at night, he turned to me and said things like, “Silas, what do you think my new parents will be like? Maybe my dad will be a famous runner, and he can teach me how to be the best.” I always let him fantasize about such things. I thought that maybe if he wished it hard enough, it would happen.

We arrived at the conservation area just before noon. We were told to follow the instructor down to the docks where we would be boating.

I had never experienced such a beautiful sight: a crystal clear lake surrounded by towering trees that danced in the wind. It started to rain, but since there was no thunder or lightning, the instructor said it was safe to be on the water.

“Now, make sure you stay on this side of the lake. We don’t want anyone going out towards that rocky cove.”

Neither Peter nor I had been canoeing before, and we were both equally enthralled. The instructor taught us basic strokes, fitted us for life jackets, and helped everyone into the boats. Everyone else had three people in theirs, but it worked out that Peter and I got to have a boat to ourselves.

“Come on, let’s beat the others!” I yelled to Peter from the stern.

We both began to paddle relentlessly, quickly passing all the other children, and eventually even the instructor. That’s when the wind started to pick up. Our boat was zooming down the lake without us needing to paddle at all. We could hear the instructor and Ms. Schultz shouting at us to come back, but I wasn’t strong enough to turn us around against the current. Panic set in as the wind pushed us into the cove. I could no longer hear the screams of our names, and when I looked back at the others, they were just dots floating in the distance.

Suddenly, a big gust of wind hit and knocked our boat into a tall boulder. The collision caused our canoe to tip over. Everything slowed down, and I could feel my heart sink to my stomach as we submerged into the water. My life jacket brought me to the surface quickly.

“Peter?!” I turned to my right and saw Peter floundering in the water; his life jacket was too big, barely holding his head above the water. I rushed to his side and lifted the top half of his body into the air. “It’s ok, you’re alright.”

“Silas, I’m scared!”

“It’s ok. Help will be here soon.” Without warning, the wind’s current picked up in the opposite direction, pushing the other boats away from us.

I wasn’t a strong swimmer, and the shore looked so far away. As I contemplated what to do, I saw someone swimming towards us. He arrived quickly and shouted, “Let me help you!” The strange man took Peter from my arms and began towing him safely to shore.

I started to swim after them. Within a couple of minutes, another colossal wave pushed me towards a cluster of sharp rocks. Then, everything was white.

_______________

I was in a forest unlike I had ever seen. I stood still for a moment to admire the vibrant and peculiar-looking trees. I took a deep breath and let the earthy air fill my lungs, and the sound of wind fill my ears. I felt at peace, yet conflicted as I knew I had just left Peter behind. I knew I was dead.

Instinctively, I looked behind me, and there was a beautiful woman there waiting for me. She had long blonde hair that glistened in the light, and her eyes were as clear blue as the lake I died in. I knew this woman to be my mother. I had never recollected a single memory of her before, but somehow in this place, I remembered her vividly.

“Mother.”

“My beautiful son. I am so sorry you had to leave your friend. But now, you may finally be in peace.” She said, smiling at me, gently taking my hands. “I can see that you want to go back...for him.”

“Is that possible?”

“Yes. But you will not go back as the same person you were. You will be gifted with the life you need to save him and yourself. You will also suffer a great deal, in ways that you have never felt. Do you wish to do this or stay here with me?” She said eloquently. She was radiating an abundance of pure love. Part of me wanted to stay in those woods forever, but I knew what I had to do.

“I want to go.”

“We will see each other again, my sweet boy.” she said, smiling as she let go of my hands.

Then, I felt my whole being absorbed back into the physical.

_________________

When I was born again, I remembered my past life as if nothing had changed. But as I began to age, I lost all the memories of my life as Silas. The only things I could remember were from my new life as Malcolm.

In this life, I had a family that cared for me. They ensured I had a good childhood filled with loving memories. They paid for me to be apart of a very prestigious track club, which I enjoyed more than anything else.

At the age of 21, I competed in the Summer Olympics and won three gold medals. I met a beautiful woman there, named Elisa, and we went on to get married only a short while later. Our love was more powerful than anything I had ever felt. But after three years of marriage, Elisa was hit by a truck on her way home from work. She died instantly.

I was told her father had passed away in bed the morning before her death. She was to inherit $20,000 from him, and as her assets were to go to me, I ultimately inherited the sum. This in no way felt like a fair trade for the remarkable person I had just lost.

Running is what kept me sane in what felt to be a cruel world. One rainy afternoon, I veered from my usual route and headed towards the conservation area nearby. Running surrounded by trees with the water at my side, I could finally feel myself again. The weather was gloomy, but I was euphoric. For a moment, I felt a twinge of guilt for experiencing joy so soon after losing Elisa, but I knew in my heart she would only wish happiness upon me.

The trail led out of the woods and onto a beachfront. As I looked to admire the beautiful scenery, I noticed a flipped canoe floating in the water. Immediately, flashes of memories flooded my mind; I finally remembered who I had been and who I had come back for.

I was the man who rescued Peter that day.

Upon bringing Peter to the shore, I asked him to stay put and wait for me to find his friend. By the time I had recovered my old vessel, the rescue boat had arrived.

Once Peter discovered Silas was dead, he began weeping so loudly that all other noises were inaudible. All I could hear was the sound of despair echoing across the lake.

I was required to fill out an incident report at the conservation area’s office since I was a witness. On the boat ride back, I sat next to Peter, and after several minutes of sobbing, he instead began to faintly whimper.

“He’s not really gone, ya know?” I said softly.

Peter sniffled and looked up at me with wistful eyes. He glanced over at the covered body in the boat ahead, and the hope vanished from his expression.

“He’s still with you. Can’t you feel him?” I said as I smiled and tapped my chest.

Peter looked astounded and perhaps partially offended. Suddenly a wave of understanding came over him as he closed his eyes and put a hand over his heart. After a minute or so, he opened his eyes and gave me a small smile.

A few weeks later, I was at Oakley’s to finalize the adoption of Peter. Fortunately, the inheritance covered all of the adoption fees.

I stepped out of Ms. Schultz’s office and into the hall where Peter sat, waiting patiently with his frayed backpack resting on his lap. He gazed up at me with his big green eyes looking delighted.

I bent down on one knee, so we were at eye level. “Well, everything is all set. You ready to go?”

“Yup!” Peter stood up eagerly and swung his backpack over his shoulder.

“Ms. Schultz told me you ran in the Olympics; is that true?”

“It’s true. I hear you’re the fastest seven-year-old there is; is that true?”

“Oh, I don’t know…maybe.” Peter giggled.

When we arrived home, I showed Peter around and let him unpack his things. The first thing he took out of his backpack was a little black book, which I remembered to be his drawing book.

“That looks special. Can I see?” I asked kindly.

Peter nodded and delicately handed me the book. I flipped through the pages which partially illustrated my past life with Peter. I gently closed the book and placed it on the bed, realizing how lucky I had been to receive a second chance.

“Would you like to see our backyard?”

“Yeah!” Peter exclaimed.

Soon after stepping outside, we started a game of tag. As I chased Peter around the oak tree in our yard, I felt a piece of my life that was cut out finally return to me.

The End