Half Girlfriend

it said.
‘C’mon, Madhav. Be amazing.’
I stood up. Without thinking, I started to run again.
My legs and abdomen screamed with pain. My nose felt like ice.
However, my head felt like fire. I ran, almost jumped with every
stride, and looked straight ahead. Snow was in my sneakers, turning
my feet cold and wet.
‘Run, run, run,’ I whispered with every breath I reached a dead
end at Washington Square Park.
‘I’m close. Right turn from here.’
Time: 11.56 p.m.
I wanted to rest for a minute.
‘No rest,’ I scolded myself.
I turned right and ran.
The noise of music and the crowd outside made me stop.
Cafe Wha? The lit-up sign greeted me with its bright yellow letters.
I pumped my fists.