"Mom! Run!" I can't catch my breath now. I have to keep running away. Away from everything that has happened in the past. My ribs hurt, but I can't stop. "Hurry, Mom!"

They're catching up! Up ahead I see an alley. We have to try. "Mom! Up ahead!" Thank God she sees it, too. We make a sharp turn into the alley, but keep running. Luckily, they don't see us. We stop to catch our breath and feel our pain.

I only stop for a few minutes before I start to search for another way out. The alley is full of card board and trashcans on fire. Its very familiar to me. I just don't know from where. I look down the alley and see a small glimpse of red. I think that it is brick. I guess we will just have to find out.

"Okay, Mom," I say, "Do you see that speck of red over there?" She nods. "We have to run again. Do you think you can do that?"

"Do I have a choice," She asks.

"I guess not," I say. I know that now is a serious time, but I can't help but laugh at my mother's attempt to brighten the mood. "On three, we run. One. Two. Three." And in one swift movement, we're off.