Runners

A short story. Simple, quick, and dark. But it gets a little gory, warning!

She drew her knees to her chest, arms shaking. Her breath fogged up the midnight air, tiny clouds dancing in front of her. She just wanted to die. The wound in her side steadily seeped blood, and her breath became ragged. Her eyes fogged up.

"No."

Her voice barely carried.

"No."

She said it again. Only runners gave up. Runners run from everything - dreams, danger, thrill. They run away from all of it, shaming it as if it were dirty. They ran away from life and died as soon as they were grazed with a bullet.

She didn't want to be a runner.