Someday Maybe by Ophelia London

recent rain, and the sky shone bright blue. It might’ve been a lovely day had I the desire to enjoy it. Helmeted bikers whizzed past, as well as a procession of random exercisers either on foot or on various wheeled contraptions. It took genuine stamina to hit the hilly miles of the park, especially this morning when everything felt uphill.
    Not far into our walk, Sydney stopped to sniff a rock, so I took the opportunity to plop down on the grass off to the side of the trail. Leaning back on my hands, I yawned so wide it hurt the corners of my lips. Too many days of restless sleep and self-induced mucho stress were catching up to me.
    My sweat-dried then slept-on hair was loose and hanging wildly over my shoulders, probably matching how hideous my unwashed face felt. Meghan had told me once that she loved the natural Rachel; that I looked best with wavy “beach hair” and hints of last night’s makeup. But everyone knows only supermodels can pull of that “morning after” look.
    As I sat there taking a breather, watching Sydney scratch around a cluster of purple flowers, I observed the parade of runners trotting past. They looked trim and fit, taking the hills with no problem, while I felt my backside sink deeper into the ground. I decided to let one more pair of beautiful, Special K-eaters pass before puppy and I returned to the flow of traffic.
    I hadn’t thought to bring sunglasses and was squinting into the sun while noting the oncoming couple. She looked all healthy and springy, and the guy was tall with nice shoulders. I moved farther off the trail, about to let them pass. Until I heard a familiar voice.
    “Nooo. Stop.” Followed by breathless laughter. “You wouldn’t! You swear you wouldn’t!” Megs. I couldn’t help snorting, wondering how long it had been since she’d willingly exercised on her own.
    Knowing Meghan, if I didn’t pull her focus, she probably wouldn’t notice me. But since I’d already scooted off the grass, I took the high road. Sort of. I extended one leg across the path in a pretend attempt to trip the approaching duo. Seeing my barricade in the nick of time, they knocked into each other, nearly falling onto the grass beside me.
    Catching Meghan’s startled expression set me into a fit of mad giggles, and I rolled back on the grass, cackling out loud and clutching my stomach. Nothing like a good belly laugh. Meghan marched toward me, while her guy was turned the other way, leaning over to pick up the baseball cap that had fallen off his shaved head.
    Ahh, so I was about to meet the infamous Rad.
    “Devil woman,” Meghan hissed, glaring down at me. “You could’ve killed us.”
    I couldn’t respond because I was still caught in the throes of giggle hysteria as her shadow darkened my view of the morning sky.
    “Fine, laugh away,” she continued, while Sydney barked at her protectively. “Your little doggie can’t defend you. I know where you live and I’ve seen where you sleep.” Her face finally broke into a smile and she grunted a laugh, tightening her ponytail. “It’s awfully early for you to be up, isn’t it?”
    I rolled onto my knees and wiped the corners of my eyes. “Funny, I was about to say the same to you . I didn’t think you knew this trail existed. You never come out here when I want to go for a run.”
    “Yes, I do.” She kicked my shoe, which was probably supposed to be a subtle request for me to play along, though Meghan had never grasped subtlety. “I run here all the time. Remember ?”
    I shaded my eyes from the sun and coughed a laugh. “Uhh, sure, Megs. Whatever you say.”
    It was right about then that I glanced past my best friend’s shoulder and took note of her running date, who was standing frozen in place, purple Colorado Rockies baseball cap between his hands. Staring at me.
    You know that scene in Jaws when that little boy is getting devoured by the shark amid a geyser of blood? Spielberg did that cool “forward tracking, zoom