There was once a boy named Nathan.
And a girl named Autumn.
They didn't stop moving until first light.
When the first sun began to crest the horizon.
Nathan was spent.
"You're spent," Autumn said.
And he nearly collapsed onto her.
She held him and brought him to a seat on the pine-needle strewn ground. Sweat clung to them. More on Nathan.
"You've lost a lot of blood," said Autumn, indicating his arm that had been stabbed through.
They'd walked all night.
Nathan was sure the Authority soldiers had given up the search.
For the night.
They would send a caravan of troops into the town as soon as they could. Which would be soon. Within the next hour or so.
The sun lent soft light to their faces.
Soft faces—both of them.
Autumn's because she was a girl.
Nathan because he was young.
The harsher lines and wrinkles hadn't set in.
And it may have been, Autumn realized, a reflection of Nathan's heart as well.
He was young, wanted so much more.
Deserved so much more.
Maybe was even destined for so much more.
She saw greatness in him.
Though she would never tell him that.
But she would make damn sure he became great.
Finally, she roused him to his feet and pulled him along the rest of the way. Back to her house. They snuck in the back way and her father was still asleep. Taking him into the bathroom, she rooted through a few drawers to find the antiseptic and bandages. She cleaned his arm. He gritted his teeth. And she tied the bandages around, glad that she could be here for him.
Take care of him.
As she finished tying the bandages around his arm, she began to cry.
Not for the long night.
Not for the treacherous run from the Authority soldiers.
But for Nathan.
"What's wrong?" Nathan asked.
And his face and eyes were innocent, like a puppy.
Which made Autumn laugh through her tears.
Nathan didn't understand, but he did offer a weak smile through his tired face.
*****
Nathan broke through the outside of his window, climbed over the sill, and let himself spill over into his bedroom. For the first time, though the room was small and musty and old and in this stupid town, he saw something about it he had never seen before. Like, the feeling you get when you look at a painting. Or think of an old memory.
He might actually miss this room.
After all, it was all he knew.
He was quiet, careful not to wake his aunt and uncle.
They would never understand.
Never did understand.
Changing his clothes, he found his backpack and packed some of his belongings.
Then he went to his window, about to jump out, when he remembered the book. His uncle's book. The explorer. He went to the shelves, shoved a few aside to find it.
Dusted off the cover and tucked it into his bag.
*****
Autumn walked Nathan to the edge of town. They held hands. Knowing they wouldn't see each other for awhile. Nathan was a fugitive. His life would never be the same.
Heat rose from the surface of the ground.
The suns were getting hot already.
Nathan took a drink of his water bottle.
They were overlooking a vale. Beyond which was the next town, beyond which mountains towered, standing in the way of the next district over—which was where Nathan would go.
"Where will you go?" asked Autumn.
Nathan shrugged. "See the world, I guess."
"I'm going to miss you," she said.
"I'll be back," he said, trying to sound manly, like he knew what he was doing.
Inside, he was terrified.
But also sort of excited.
He felt like his life had come to a standstill in this town, living with his aunt and uncle, wasting his days away. He'd always wanted more.
And this was his chance, though it was likely the Authority would find him and kill him.
"Why don't you come?" Nathan said.
And now tears welled in her eyes.
She threw her arms around Nathan and sobbed into his shoulder.
Nathan held her tight, feeling hot tears come to his eyes, roll down his face.
He sniffled, considering their futures.
They'd grown up together—had known each other their whole lives.
"You know I can't come," Autumn said.
"Why not?"
She didn't know why she said it, but she did: "This is your adventure. Not mine."
He didn't know what that meant, but he held her tighter.
"Come back to me," she said. "In one piece."
After they held each other for a few minutes, they separated.
Nathan wiped his tears.
She came close to him, looking up into his eyes.
Looking at his mouth.
And then into his eyes.
"Bye," he said.
And then turned to walk away.
"Nathan," she said.
He turned around. "What?"
"You're not going to kiss me?"
"I thought you didn't like it."
"Well," she said, trying to find words. "I kinda did."
Taking the few steps back to her, he took her in his arms and kissed her once more.
Finally, without another word, he left.
Towards the mountains.
Tears in his eyes, he dared not look back.