The Narrow Path Part 1: Day 1 of 5

​The Narrow Path Copyright © 2019 Nicole Donoho This 5-Day blog series story is a work of fiction. Names, descriptions, entities, and incidents included in this story are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, and entities is entirely coincidental.
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My heart raced as I felt Xander’s hand slide up the back of my shirt. While my mind kept telling me to pull away from his lips, it was overruled by my body’s burning desire to close the gap between our bodies. If only I could rewind the evening to the movie theater. I should have gone home at that time instead of suggesting to go for a drive. That was my crossroad, my opportunity, and I blew it. Or did I? There was still time to walk away if I could just…what was it I should do? His hand slid further up my back.
 
God, I’m not strong enough to walk away. I thought. I’m not even sure if I want to walk away. I could…I need some help.
 
It was now or never. Before I could think about what I was doing, I pushed away from Xander and rushed down the bed of the pickup. “I can’t do this.”
 
“Lexi?”
 
I quickly grabbed my jacket off the side of the truck and jumped down from the tailgate. “I’ve got to go.”
 
“Lexi, wait!” Xander yelled.
 
I rushed past the pickup, through the clearing, and onto the dirt road. The thick woods on either side of the road and canopy of tangled branches above blocked out the light of the moon. The further I walked, the darker it became until finally I felt the darkness weigh on me. It was like that feeling when you’re jolted from sleep with no memories of a nightmare but your body feels paralyzed with fear.
 
God, you’re with me. Help me be brave. I prayed as I continued down the shadowy path.
 
I moved to the edge of the road being careful not to slide into the ditch. The ditch on either side was only a couple feet down but the loose gravel and large rocks along the way would be sure to twist an ankle. Xander’s pickup engine roared to life behind me and tires squealed across gravel. Dingy yellow beams of light from behind cast shadows all around me. With the additional light I was able to pick up my pace.
 
“Lexi?” Xander called through the window as he pulled up next to me.
 
“I can’t, Xander.” I shook my head and continued walking.
 
Part of me wanted him to drive away and give me some time to get my crazy body under control. The other part of me wanted to jump in the pickup and rip his shirt off. I kept my eyes focused on the edge of the ditch.
 
“Lexi? Lexi, would you at least look at me?” Xander begged as he continued inching down the road. “What are you going to do, run home?”
 
Of all the things weighing on my mind, home was the least of my concerns.
 
God, I’m sure I look like a crazy person. Walking down the road in the middle of the night. In the middle of nowhere. Even more so when I had started by jumping from the back of the pickup. Is that what you want for me? Is that what it means to follow you? To look crazy?
 
I stared at the side of the road and continued to walk, jog, run. As long as my feet kept moving, I was making progress. I wasn’t sure if I wanted an audible response or some small reassurance that I wasn’t losing my mind. I’d even settle for a visit from one of those “Fear not” angels that always appeared in those Bible stories I had heard growing up. Nothing came.