Tag, you’re it!
The words rang out, high and bright, slicing through the summer dusk. Ellie’s bare feet slapped against the grass as she darted away, giggling, her braids bouncing. Behind her, Lucy gave chase, arms pumping, eyes shining. Fireflies blinked in the twilight like tiny stars, and the air smelled of lilacs and hot dirt.
Ellie ducked behind the old oak, pressing her back against the rough bark. She could hear Lucy’s footsteps slow, hear the little huffs of breath. Then—silence.
Ellie peeked around the trunk. No Lucy.
“Lucy?” she whispered. The shadows seemed thicker now, the yard wider than it had ever been. The swing swayed though no wind stirred.
A small hand tapped Ellie’s shoulder. “Tag, you’re it,” Lucy breathed in her ear.
Ellie spun, but there was no one there.
The giggle came from far away, threading through the fireflies. “Come find me.”
Ellie’s feet moved before her mind caught up, chasing a voice that always seemed just a step ahead, into the dark.
Therapy Bits 
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