Her pulse throbbed in her neck and crashed like waves behind her eardrums. Silently gulping mouthfuls of air, she panicked. He was coming.
She could hear the crunch of twigs beneath his quickened steps.
The pace slowed.
The sounds softened.
He knew she was near.
She was an animal being stirred from a hiding spot. Her eyes darted in every direction, as she strained her senses to detect his location.
"Syyyyyyyyyylviaaaaaaaa."
He was only a few trees away!
She threw her hand over her mouth, hoping that her arm's swift arc through the air hadn't made a sound. Unable to trust herself to be silent, she pressed her palm against her nose and mouth with all her might.
Black spots began to appear before she realized her desperate need for oxygen.
Her eyes opened wide in realization. "The pond!" she thought in triumph. "He can't swim!"
The sound of his breath was close. Too close. She didn't have time to think. Just run!
Pushing off from the tree, she sprinted desperately towards the pond.
Fifty yards.
Forty-five.
Forty!
She could make it! He was faster, but she had the elements of surprise, adrenaline and determination.
Twenty.
Fifteen.
Ten!
She was going to get away! She would dive at 2 yards and she would be gone.
But at five - he reached out and yanked her arm back!
His breath came out in sharp bursts. His hand slid firmly down her arm to her wrist. He held her tightly, unwilling to loosen his vice grip.
"The pond?" He laughed hard, barely able to inhale between fits of coughing. "You cheat! You know that?"
She knelt to the ground in her own fit of laughter, knowing he had won her, fair and square.
"You're not supposed to be on the ground! I am." Shawn kneeled down beside her. "Now, Miss Sylvia. Let's do this again, shall we? I can have you IF I can catch you? You should know - the thought of drowning in that pond wouldn't have stopped me from trying."
Staring into his eyes and melting from his touch, she was breathless, glowing, and madly in love.
"I did catch you today, but only after you caught me years ago." The sparkle of a diamond solitaire shone between them. "Sylvia, will you be mine, forever?"
Capturing his lips between hers, her answer was muffled by the sweetest contract, sealed with a kiss.
I am new to the Ink Well Fiction Community, so I am sorry to say that I needed to go back to old prompts in order to find some inspiration. Quite likely that I'll return for more - so apologies, in advance if some of the community members find me commenting on old posts. I will try to follow you so that I can be apprised of your newest posts, to have more opportunity to meet and support you.
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