[ WP ] Every morning she puts on her sweats , laces her shoes , downs some coffee , and goes running with a dead man .

The world always looked different to her in this early morning light, when the sun was just creeping through the horizon and trying to break the fog and dew that coated the grass. She liked it best. He did too. They did n't speak on their runs, both focused on keeping an even pace with one another. There was only ever the echo of one person's footsteps but she could feel him brush her arms with his. She always knew he was there, right beside her. They would speak as she slowed to a stop, to take a rest on an off-beaten part of their favorite trail. His questions constantly changed, which surprised her. 25 years, and he still could surprise her. But sometimes, he asked the same questions. And she always gave him the same answers to those same questions. 
 
 `` How's Dad doing?'' He asked this morning, not even breathing hard. 
 
 `` He's alright, still working the same place, drinking with the same buddies.'' 
 
 `` How's Missy?'' 
 
 `` She's good, studying hard she said the last I talked with her. She has her MCATs coming up, you know. And her girlfriend, Janey, has her LSATs. I do n't know how those two ever see each other.'' 
 
 `` How are you doing?'' 
 
 `` I'm alright, the same thing day in and day out.'' She never looked at him when he asked her. Today it seemed, he was asking his usual questions, being his usual nosey self. He leaned towards her and she could feel the lack of breath on her cheek, like a sharp ache inside her chest. He laughed a little laugh on her cheek, just a huff of air before he stood tall. 
 
 `` I do n't like you lying to me.'' 
 
 `` You never did,'' She spoke sharply and regretted it the next minute. This was the only time they got together, why did she always have to be so short with him? When the sun rose fully and the day lost it's mystery, he would be lost too. Until the next morning, until their next run. She was n't sure if she could stand to go running tomorrow. She chanced a look at him and saw him growing paler and paler. 
 
 `` Why are you still here?'' She asked him, like she did everyday. She would have thought the dead should be resting, not going for runs with old ladies like her. 
 
 `` You know why,'' He shrugged, giving her the same answer he always gave her. She grumbled at him annoyed. It was n't an answer. Not the one she wanted at least. She felt him lean down again, felt his ice cold lips brush her cheek. 
 
 `` See you tomorrow Ma, I love you.'' 
 
 And her son, her precious little boy, disappeared with the morning light like he did those 25 years ago, that one August morning.
