Holding My Breath [Wattys 2016]

1 4 ~ R u s t y

                 

Present Day ~ May 12, 2011

I'll tell everyone who I am the day pigs fly. I'll scream it from the rooftops if the sun doesn't rise tomorrow. I'll turn myself in if it would mean that everyone I've hurt will get better.

But none of those things will ever happen. Ever.

That's why I cringe when I see one of them, one of the kids Blue introduced me to. I don't remember what his name was... the boy from the back of the truck. As I walk up through the blazing sun to play my guitar, there he sits, at one of the tables outside Archie's.

I've never had to watch out for people in this town, people who might know me. A few months ago I was recognized here, on the outskirts of Wallen, just after my life fell apart. I had to make a quick escape. But I never thought that I would have to keep looking over my shoulder whenever I returned.

"Hey, Rusty was it?" I hear him laugh as I walk by. I keep my eyes straight ahead, ignoring his voice. I hear him stand up to come after me and I just pick up my pace. I think eventually he gave up and sat back down, going back to the cell phone he was talking on. I don't blame him for not following me. For not putting up a better fight. I'm glad that he didn't. Otherwise, I might have another situation on my hands like Blue, someone who will recognize me next time we meet, who is a risk factor to my staying here.

Someone who might learn too much about me. Those are the dangerous ones.

I've only got one more thing to get done before I can go. This town is the best hiding place I've ever seen, but I can pass it up if I need to. Lord knows I need to hide, but maybe I'll invest in my backup plan, first. I should know when it's time to run... I've done it enough times.

But that theater ticket is burning a hole in my back pocket. It's about time I follow its lead.