003.

[metaphor?]

The gravel crunched under her feet as she ran. Little sweat droplets were starting to form on her forehead that she tried to wipe away with one hand, while the other held the layers of her dress. Her heart felt as though it would beat right out of her chest. Her legs were tiring by the second and seemed to scream at her, "STOP RUNNING." But she couldn't.

Her eyes kept creeping farther and farther to her left, straining to see if it was still behind her, but she could not allow them to look." I just, I have to keep going," she thought. "If i keep going, it will never catch up with me. I will never have to deal with it."

She was growing more & more fatigued every second. Her lungs were starting to heave as she attempted to gulp air. "Ugh! I have to keep going!" she shouted out loud. She felt her right leg buckle from underneath her as she stepped on a loose rock about the size of a golf ball. She came crashing to her knees in tears of frustration.

She panted rapidly, trying to catch her breath. Her throat felt as though she had tried to swallow sand.
She slowly craned her neck around to her left. As her eyes began to focus, she could see the boulder in the distance, barreling towards her.
No..no!
She scrambled to get up but her legs were just too weak.
I--I can't--I...
and her hands slipped from under her once again as she fell face-first into the gravel and burst into tears.

She lifted her eyes and saw what appeared to be a figure coming her way. Wiping the tears from her eyes in a panic, she squinted to see what it was. With a quick glance behind her, her heart beat even faster and she turned to look at the man that seemed to be walking briskly towards her, as if he had some purpose in mind.
He walked with confidence, but looked gentle and kind.
As he approached her, he gave her a reassuring half-smile as he looked down at her.
"Doesn't he see it? It's coming right towards us!" she thought.
"S--Sir! There's---" she gasped for air. "it's--coming!"

The man didn't look surprised or worried. He just smiled and gave her a reassuring nod. He placed his hand on her head as he passed her, stopping right where her feet had ended up. A peace came over her.
He stood between her and the boulder. The boulder slowed and curved off the pathway, slowing still as it rolled onto the grass and finally halted.
"You..stopped it. Who--who ARE you?" she asked, full of wonder and an indescribable gratitute.
He smiled, picked her up off the ground, and hugged her.
She knew.
It was He who saves.