*When The Trail Ends*

The narrator is a long-time runner who has been wondering for years about the purpose of running. As they lie face-first on a beaten trail, they notice the world around them, which is spring with birds chirping, trees budding, and damp earth. They take deep breaths and lay in bliss, catching their breath for what felt like an eternity. However, they remember falling, and they fall in the direction they were running.

As they continue to jog down the trail, the world becomes greener with each step, with budding trees turning green and weeds, shrubs, and flora sprouting from the forest floor. They watch as squirrels scurry up trees in their presence. As the sun sets, the trees separate and light beams down on the trail, causing the narrator to close their eyes and bask in the warmth.

An old oak has toppled over and lies a ways away from the edge of the trail. A man almost as old as the oak sits atop it, tilting the cane in his hand as he nods his head to the narrator. He scoffed at the narrator, saying that not everyone started running at the same time or place. He scoffed, saying that he was done with running and that he didn't understand why he even ran in the first place.

The narrator questions the old man about why he stopped running and whether he was just a health nut trying to get fit. The old man scoffed, saying that he was done with running and that he didn't understand why he even ran in the first place. The narrator tells the old man that he doesn't know why he was running either, but he knows there was a reason for it and will keep running.

As the narrator jogs back down the trail, the air becomes heavier and hotter, and the sun rays peek through the trees. The trail path has become cracked and dry, most likely by the sun. The trees are in full bloom, and the buzzing of cicadas drowns out all sounds except the wind.

As the narrator turns around, they hear footsteps behind them, and they instinctively turn around to stop someone. To their relief, they see a young boy in a sweat-stained red shirt and blue shorts running straight at them. The boy runs, looking chilled to the bone, and the narrator shakes his head a couple times to grasp the situation.

The narrator shouts out to the boy, but he continues to run down the trail. The narrator grabs his arm and shouts, "The Lady!" He frantically yanks his arm, yanking his arm.

The narrator is on a trail, trying to find a girl who is chasing them. They encounter a boy who claims to be a beautiful woman with black wings and a white dress. The boy asks the narrator to come to her, but the narrator denies it. The boy then runs down the trail, outpacing the narrator. The narrator is exhausted and decides to walk down the trail instead.

The trail is covered in fallen leaves, and the narrator wonders if the old man found what was chasing them. They both find themselves ridiculous, one eager to run and get away, while the other is content to press forward. The narrator is unsure why they are marching forward and wonders why they are not stopping.

As they continue down the trail, they notice that they have lost the trail. They search for a patch of beaten earth and wonder how long they have been off the trail. They cannot tell which way they walked from, as they risk getting more lost. They realize they must get home to their family and see them smile one last time.

In the cold, they wonder if they are walking forward or back, and if they are heading straight to something. They take deep breaths to calm down and reassure themselves that they are ahead. They look up at the sky and see snowflakes falling from the heavens, feeling reassured that they are still there.