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Laughing as the sunlight washes over me, causing no pain, I do a little spin with my arms spread out before I take off running. Heading for the trees in front of me.

Moving as if I’m the wind, everything beside me passes by in a blur. Vaguely, I’m aware of leaves crackling and twigs snapping beneath my feet, but they don’t slow my speed.

Invigorated by the fresh air, I thrust my arms out beside me and let the tips of my fingers brush against the bark of the trees.

Tipping my head back, I look up at the thin canopy of leaves, seeking out the sky.

It’s so light… so blue… and sobig.

Full of endless possibilities.

Possibilities that have been denied to me.

All around me, I can sense and hear life.

Birds sing to each other. Rabbits forage and seek out mates. Deer rub their antlers against the trees.

And predators lie in wait, ready to strike given the first opportunity.

The forest is buzzing with the sounds of flies, bees, and heartbeats.

My legs starting to grow tired, I slow down and stop, taking a moment to truly appreciate all the green around me.

To my left, a squirrel is rushing up a trunk with an acorn clutched between its teeth.

And to my right is a white butterfly fluttering from purple flower to purple flower.

The sudden urge to catch that butterfly comes over me. I want to experience what it’s like to hold something so pretty and delicate in my hand.

Stalking after the butterfly, I wait until it lands on another purple flower, then I make my move.

Thrusting out my arm, I close my hand around it.

Slowly pulling my arm to my chest, I carefully open my hand, expecting to see it fluttering against my palm.

But my hand is empty.

The only thing on my palm is the blood dripping from the tips of my fingers.

Why are my fingers bleeding?

Maybe I snagged them on a thorn…

Frowning, I look back at the flowers, searching for thorns, and see the butterfly flying away.

Why didn’t I catch it? I thought I had vampire speed…

Still determined to capture it, I stalk after the butterfly, following it through the trees.

I’d run after it, but I’m afraid of scaring it away, if I already haven’t.

With each step I take, though, my legs slow, as if they’re being weighed down by lead.

Then I step on a branch, cracking it in half. The snap it makes seems to alert the entire forest to my presence.

All the life I heard only seconds ago quiets. Leaving behind only the sounds of buzzing and heartbeats.

A flock of birds suddenly takes flight, fleeing the canopy to soar up into the sky.