The wind and the hair

— | — Is it far?
— | – Not far, dear.
— | — Do we have to go?
— | – No, but we should go.
Pause
— | — Why?
Inhale
Hold
Exhale through the nose
Inhale
— | – We should go.
Looking up at the hand held
At the shape and the face
— | – That’s why we’re going.
Releases the hand that is held
— | – Don’t you want to hold my hand?
— | — For a little bit.
It begins to grow dark
The sounds of their footsteps
The high, quick tap of small feet
The mid-high, slightly lower toned pace
Foot scrapes
Breath through the nose
Through the throat
The growing darkness
Streetlights begin to fade
Choked by the darkness
Quick steps grow quicker
— | – Hold on dear, don’t go too far.
Quickened breaths
Rapid steps then pause
Then steps again
— | – Dear,
Darkness absolute
Stop
Stand still
— | – Um,
Stillness
Inhale
Exhale
The sound of the breath now loudly in the ear
— | – Dear?
Nothing
Foot scrape
Pivot
Blink
Nothing
Pause
Blink
Pause
Close eyes
Hold
Inhale
Open
Darkness
Exhale
Inhale
— | – Dear…
Quietly with little directionality
— | — Where are you?
— | – Stay where you are…
Feet in rhythm against the ground
Pause
— | – Keep talking…
— | — I can’t see.
— | – Keep talking dear…
— | — Where are you?
— | – Um…
Steps
Pause
Listen
— | – Dear, you need to…
Pause
Stillness
Nothing
— | – Dear?
Nothing
Inhale
— | – Dear?
Blink
No discernible difference between eyelids lowered and unshuttered
Step
Step
Slowly forward
Step
Hold
Pause
Pivot
Foot scrape
Hold
Step
Pause
Hold
— | – Dear?
Once more, quietly
— | – Dear…
Then nothing