Heart pounding, I ran as fast as I could, not minding when sharp rocks made my feet bleed. All I knew was that I had to get away. Good thing I had been on the track team. I tried to listen for his footsteps but all I could hear was my panicked breathing and my blood rushing. Turning around I tried to spot if he was following me. But instead, I tripped over a root and got tangled in a wild blackberry bush. Terrified I flailed about, trying to escape its gnarled grasp. Holding back a whimper, I moved slower, gently separating the thorned limbs. Just as I was about to be freed I heard the sound of footsteps running in my direction. I didn’t have enough time to run away without him seeing me, so I did the only thing I could. I dove back into the blackberry bush. The thorns tore deeper into my already scratched arms and I could feel the hot tears streaming down my face. I looked up at the clear night sky. How had a perfect July morning come to this?