His heart pounded in his ears, a deafening drumbeat that threatened to consume him whole. He knew he had to get away, far from the clinic, far from the trouble that was sure to follow.
And so he ran, not stopping until he was sure he had left the danger zone behind.
Finally, as he rounded a corner, he dared to glance back. The cops were just a few meters away, talking to some people, perhaps asking if they had seen him.
"Shit! Oh, Jesus!" Tommy cursed, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He began running again, not stopping until he was sure he was close to safety.
He almost cried, but this wasn't the time yet.
First, he needed to escape, at least for now. And then, maybe, he could allow himself to break down. But for now, he pushed on, his legs carrying him forward on autopilot, his mind fixed on freedom.
(A Few Moments Later)
