Perfect Girl - Weebly

Clearly, I need to exercise more because, with five blocks
and five minutes left to go, I completely run out of gas.
“One minute,” I gasp. “I. Can’t. Run. Any. More.”
Sweaty, red-faced, and wheezing, I involuntarily crumple
to the steps of the Capitol Building. Perry folds to the
ground beside me. The Capitol looms over us like a giant
mushroom cloud. Unable to move, we sit there, panting,
staring up.
It’s a strange sensation to see something you’ve seen a
million times before in photographs. It’s ordinary, yet totally
new, as if I’d only dreamed it before. My mind flashes on
that night up on Perry’s roof. Thwang night. I felt then as I
do now. While gazing at something so familiar, I’m seeing it
for the very first time. There on the marble steps, we’re puny
in front of the huge white building. But, with Perry at my
side, I feel invincible.
“I can make it now,” I say, clambering to my feet.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Even though Perry stands, neither one of us moves. The
clock is ticking, but we don’t take a step. We stare up at the
Rotunda, our mouths slightly open. I’m aware that we’re
almost out of time. But, I feel like time is standing still. It’s
as if we’re in a parallel universe. Just Perry and me and our
two hearts beating.
Suddenly, like some inner marionette controls us, Perry
turns to me at the same instant I turn to him. Time stops
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