Which made him think about what Lexie had said about being out for a run. He looked down the street in the dimming light, with all the cars passing. Some of them already had their headlights on, some of them didn’t. He tried to imagine what it would be like to have the cars honking at him while he was trying to run. To have someone hanging out the window at him.

To have someone pull over their car to talk to him.

He considered himself an aware kind of guy; he knew he ran a bit of a risk going out running alone, especially after dark, but overall he wasn’t scared when a car stopped. He just assumed someone needed directions. What would it be like to be petite, lightweight Lexie, and have a car stop... she wouldn’t know if they were looking for directions or her number. Whoever was in the car was likely larger and stronger than her.

Self-defense moves could only count for so much. Michael had helped out at the class final exams before, letting himself get beat up by the students... but he was always covered in pads which made him move slower and he definitely never used his full strength. Which, now that he thought about it, might not have done them any favors. Although Angel always said a big part of self-defense was confidence.

Sweat poured down his face as he slowed to walking, his damp hair getting in his eyes and he pushed it back impatiently as he brought his water bottle up to take a drink.

He was seeing the world through a slightly different lens and he was not a fan.

The beeping of his phone distracted him and he unzipped the pocket on his runner’s belt, thankful for the distraction - especially when he saw it was an email from Ellie. A grin spread across his face. She agreed to everything in the club contract and was looking forward to signing it tomorrow.

So there was something to be happy about.

Just that response lightened his entire mood. This was really going to happen. It might only be a tiny baby step for him, but he was coming to realize it was actually a huge step for Ellie. He had her trust.

And he was going to do everything in his power to make sure he kept it.

Dr. Amy’s office never changed.

Ellie had been seeing her for years, although now she only went once a month unless she felt like she needed to come in sooner, and the office had remained exactly the same. There was something soothing about consistency, and Ellie always wondered if that’s why Dr. Amy didn’t bother updating.