“Behind him, across vast distances of space and time, from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps it was only an echo.” Lois Lowry The Giver

What was that?

Behind him, he heard a scrape. GO!

Across vast distances of space and time,

from the place he had left, he hears them,

all the people he left behind.

Quietly sounds drift to him.

He used to make them laugh; now he makes them cry.

There are too many words, too much emotion.

It all bounces around in his mind.

What is real? What is not?

He’s running. From what?

He doesn’t know. Did he ever know?

He’s not sure, but he feels that running is right.

Feet slapping concrete, blood pumping, sweat dripping,

breath gasping, even though he is so, so tired and weak.

Behind him, across vast distances of space and time,

from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too.

But perhaps it was only an echo.