Word Count: 384
He hated the holidays; Christmas with its false promise of joy, the New Year’s intent to be peaceful. He dragged his baggage behind him, straining like a dog on a leash following his nose, anxious to feel that snap! of release when tired leather wears through, the weak link gives, the owner loses grip of the handle.
He was running his daily two miles before work, preferring the late empty dawn to the crowded sidewalks of daytime. On his run back he was panting. He slowed to a stop, heaving deep empty breaths, reached for his water bottle and took a few sips. His breathing came back slowly to normal, no longer sending angry puffs into the sky. His heartbeat took a bit longer, settling down to a quiet hum in his ears. He took a few steps and within a short distance fell back into running pace.
The trails were well-worn and snowless. Eventually the snow that had been piled two feet high on the sides dwindled to nothing. He ran on. He stopped short when he saw the forsythia in full bloom. Scratched his head, convinced himself it was just one of those quirks of nature and hadn’t noticed it before. But within a few steps the trees flaunted their leaves, bright growing green as the grass. He felt as if he’d run headlong into Munchkinland.
He walked slowly now, amazed at the bright blue of the sky and the flowers that bowed and sang. A woman was on the trail coming toward him. She smiled a big grin and handed him a cup of Starbuck’s Mocha Latte. She wouldn’t take any money.
Everything was the same but different. He could see his street up ahead. Same houses, same occasional car in the lifting light that broke over the horizon of rooftops, all angled and pure cut into the sky.
Nothing more happened. He went up the stairs and into his apartment. He looked out the window and the trees were still green. As he showered he felt the great crust of the past break up, fall away, dissolve and drift with the water into the drain.
When he was dressed, reading the news on his laptop, sipping the last of the latte, he didn’t know it, but he was smiling.
