Running Toward the Future

The early morning air was crisp, and Jess could see her breath in the cool dawn light. The track stretched out before her, an open space full of possibilities, yet another challenge in this new life she was building. As she laced up her running shoes, a mix of nerves and excitement filled her. This was it—her first official day as part of the track team.

Coach Reynolds gathered the new recruits, giving a rundown of the day’s practice. Jess was assigned to the sprinting and jumping drills, a mix of strength and technique that immediately drew her in. She had always been athletic, but something about running felt different now. It wasn’t just about competition; it was about proving something to herself. Could she make this her own, or was she still chasing echoes of Jason?

As practice went on, she found herself lost in the rhythm. The sensation of wind rushing past her, the burn in her muscles, the sheer exhilaration of launching herself into the air on the high jump—it all felt right. By the time practice ended, she was exhausted but energized in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe this was what she needed. Maybe this was home.

That afternoon, after a long shower and some much-needed food, Jess found herself sitting outside the campus café, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. The past few months had been a whirlwind—waking up as someone else, struggling to fit into a world that no longer recognized her, finding unexpected friendships, and now, making choices that felt permanent. The bonfire had been a turning point. Tossing the sorority letter into the flames had felt symbolic, but what did it truly mean? Had she chosen her friends, or had she been trying to hold onto Jason just a little longer?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Leanna slid into the seat across from her, dropping a flash drive onto the table.

“We need to talk about this,” Leanna said, her voice low.

Jess exhaled slowly, picking up the small device and turning it over in her hands. It was dusty, a relic from their strange adventure in the Crane crypt. “Have you tried opening it?”

Leanna nodded. “It’s encrypted. But I might be able to crack it. The question is… do we want to?”

Jess hesitated. That was the real question, wasn’t it? She had spent so much time looking for answers, for a way back. But now, she wasn’t sure she needed one. Did she really want to know what was inside? Would it change anything?

“I don’t know,” Jess admitted. “A few months ago, I would have done anything for a way back. But now… I have a life. I have people who care about me. And honestly? I don’t know if I even want to be Jason anymore.”

Leanna studied her, her expression unreadable. “You’ve come a long way.”

Jess smiled, though there was a touch of sadness in it. “Yeah. And maybe it’s time to stop looking backward.”

Leanna tapped the flash drive against the table. “So what do we do with this?”

Jess looked at it for a long moment before slipping it into her pocket. “Let’s hold onto it. Maybe one day, I’ll want to know. But for now… I think I just want to live.”

Leanna nodded in understanding. They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the past pressing against the uncertain future. But for the first time in a long time, Jess felt lighter, as if she was finally running toward something instead of away from it.