11 Miles
“Your flight was delayed so many times I started to think it wasn’t coming.” The attendant tried to smile, but it was clear, she was as tired as I was.
“Yup, me too,” I agreed. The smell of floor cleaner stung my noise and I was happy to finally get out of the terminal.
It was late and the small airport was almost completely deserted. The last few cars were pulling away. A young family with two very tired and cranky twin girls and a frustrated man heading home from a business meeting that hadn’t gone well.
I watched them leave before crossing about a dozen empty spaces to my car, parked under a light standard. The only other ones, I assumed, belonged to the few people who spent the night at the small airport in case there was an emergency and a plane had to land.
There was a click behind me and I glanced back to see the attendant lock the door. She waved, giving a thumbs up, to ask if I was alright. I returned the gesture and continued to my car.
“Yup, me too,” I agreed. The smell of floor cleaner stung my noise and I was happy to finally get out of the terminal.
It was late and the small airport was almost completely deserted. The last few cars were pulling away. A young family with two very tired and cranky twin girls and a frustrated man heading home from a business meeting that hadn’t gone well.
I watched them leave before crossing about a dozen empty spaces to my car, parked under a light standard. The only other ones, I assumed, belonged to the few people who spent the night at the small airport in case there was an emergency and a plane had to land.
There was a click behind me and I glanced back to see the attendant lock the door. She waved, giving a thumbs up, to ask if I was alright. I returned the gesture and continued to my car.
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A white SUV that I normally had trouble finding in a parking lot full of mostly identical vehicles. After the first delay I sent a text to my boyfriend. I asked him to park my car at the airport and take the keys home with him. I had the other set in my bag. I told him what was happening and not to wait.
“This could take all night.” I joked. Little did I know how right I would be. I slid my bag in the back and closed the tailgate. I took my phone and a half empty bottle of water to the front with me and climbed into my seat. I checked my phone, and it had two percent power left. I slipped it into the cup holder. I was too tired to go searching for the power cable. I had to move my seat back a bit and smiled. My boyfriend is taller than me and he had tried to put the seat back when he got out. |
I took off my jacket. It was warm out, but it hadn’t fit in the bag I had taken with me, so I wore it. I tossed it to the back seat. I don’t know why. It would have been just as easy to set it next to me. I looked over my shoulder and saw it sitting on the seat and shrugged. I’d get it when I got home.
I pulled out of the parking lot and glanced at the time, almost eleven. Home was an hour away. One more hour and I would be in my bed, with my blankets, my pillows in my apartment.
Please don’t misunderstand me, I love visiting my family. The few weeks I get to spend with them every year mean a lot to me. There’s just something comforting about being home.
The light changed and the city faded behind me. There was nothing but farmland between me and the next town, where I live. I know these roads. I know every turn, every lane, every bump.
I settled in and turned on the radio. My boyfriend had changed the station. I wasn’t mad, it was a long drive. Even longer if you had to listen to music you didn’t really like. At least he remembered to turn it off this time, so the volume didn’t blast me.
I pressed the button a second time to search for a different station. Hearing my name come from the speakers made me freeze, as I reached out a third time.
“Welcome home,” the voice said.
I wasn’t sure if it expected me to answer or not. “Thank you,” I replied, feeling a little silly.
“Tell me your wish,” came the crackled request. “What do you want more than anything?”
This time I didn’t reply. I kept my eyes on the road. I wondered if this was some kind of prank. I knew my boyfriend hadn’t done it. He knows I don’t like to be scared when he’s not there. He likes scary movies. I like curling up with him, so I can feel his arms around me when I hide my face in his shoulder.
“Tell me your wish,” the voice asked again. More insistent this time. “Be careful. It has to be something you truly want, because if you get it in the end, it cannot be undone.”
“I want to always have enough money,” I blurted out. “I don’t need to be rich. I just want to be able to pay bills and buy things without having to worry. I want there to always be enough when I need it.”
There was silence from the radio. I reached out to press the radio station search button, but I couldn’t. I don’t know why, but I turned it off and continued in silence.
I pulled out of the parking lot and glanced at the time, almost eleven. Home was an hour away. One more hour and I would be in my bed, with my blankets, my pillows in my apartment.
Please don’t misunderstand me, I love visiting my family. The few weeks I get to spend with them every year mean a lot to me. There’s just something comforting about being home.
The light changed and the city faded behind me. There was nothing but farmland between me and the next town, where I live. I know these roads. I know every turn, every lane, every bump.
I settled in and turned on the radio. My boyfriend had changed the station. I wasn’t mad, it was a long drive. Even longer if you had to listen to music you didn’t really like. At least he remembered to turn it off this time, so the volume didn’t blast me.
I pressed the button a second time to search for a different station. Hearing my name come from the speakers made me freeze, as I reached out a third time.
“Welcome home,” the voice said.
I wasn’t sure if it expected me to answer or not. “Thank you,” I replied, feeling a little silly.
“Tell me your wish,” came the crackled request. “What do you want more than anything?”
This time I didn’t reply. I kept my eyes on the road. I wondered if this was some kind of prank. I knew my boyfriend hadn’t done it. He knows I don’t like to be scared when he’s not there. He likes scary movies. I like curling up with him, so I can feel his arms around me when I hide my face in his shoulder.
“Tell me your wish,” the voice asked again. More insistent this time. “Be careful. It has to be something you truly want, because if you get it in the end, it cannot be undone.”
“I want to always have enough money,” I blurted out. “I don’t need to be rich. I just want to be able to pay bills and buy things without having to worry. I want there to always be enough when I need it.”
There was silence from the radio. I reached out to press the radio station search button, but I couldn’t. I don’t know why, but I turned it off and continued in silence.
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I rolled to a stop next to the giant red stop. There was something different about this corner. The darkness seemed deeper and I couldn’t see very far ahead, but I know this road. There are no field roads or lanes between the city and the first stop sign. I know I have to turn right at the stop sign, so I did.
As soon as I turned, I knew something was wrong. The road was too narrow. If there was anyone else out here, we wouldn’t be able to pass each other. It also meant there was no way for me to turn around without going off the road and I couldn’t see how wide the shoulder was. Many of the roads here have deep ditches and if I slid into one there would be no way to get out again without calling for help. I slowed down and reached for my phone. A quick look told me the low battery had finally run out and my phone was now useless. My heart began to race. I knew the road I was on. I knew at the stop sign I had to turn right. This, however, was no longer the road I knew. |
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The forest was thick with tall trees growing close to the road on both sides. I slowed down and started looking for a place where I could turn the car around. This had to be a field road of some kind, but where was the field?
“There are no other roads until you get to the stop sign.” I was arguing with myself now. “I stopped at the stop sign. I turned right,” I said, in answer. “This should be the road home, but it’s not.”
The trees were so tall, I could just see a ribbon of stars in the sky above. The road ahead must be straight. As I rolled along, I noticed there were no signs or markings on the road.
I looked down, a mile ticked over on the odometer and I slowed the car down, almost to a stop.
“No,” a voice said. It was the voice I had heard from the radio, but this time it was coming from my phone. The phone, I knew, had no power. “It is too late. You can not stop.”
I didn’t question it. I sped the car up slightly and everything was quiet again.
My heart was beating faster than I had ever felt. All my senses were on alert, but for what? The night, which had been warm, was starting to feel cold. I made sure my windows were up and reached for my jacket.
Careful not to slow down, I slipped my arms, one by one, into the sleeves. It helped a little, but my face and fingers were still cold.
Without warning the road turned rough. Deep bumps forced me to slow down leading into tight turns. First to the left then to the right.
Between the turns and bumps I lost track of the direction I was going. For all I knew I was heading in the direction I had come.
I was grateful I had an SUV. It was higher than an average car. I don’t know if a car would have made it through without hitting the road bed. I slowed slightly at the thought of damaging my SUV and getting stuck out here.
Another tight turn and deep bump bounced me in my seat. I wondered what would happen if I got stuck. I know I didn’t say anything out loud but the answer was clear.
“You will freeze to death,” the voice from my phone answered. There was a cold sharpness to it. “Do not stop.”
The turns ended and the bumps faded away to flat road. The odometer ticked over again. A single mile had passed. I felt like I had been driving forever. How could I have driven only a single mile?
Then another thought pushed forward. One mile plus one mile. How could I have only been on this road for two miles? I know I was driving slowly, but I had to have gone farther than that.
“There are no other roads until you get to the stop sign.” I was arguing with myself now. “I stopped at the stop sign. I turned right,” I said, in answer. “This should be the road home, but it’s not.”
The trees were so tall, I could just see a ribbon of stars in the sky above. The road ahead must be straight. As I rolled along, I noticed there were no signs or markings on the road.
I looked down, a mile ticked over on the odometer and I slowed the car down, almost to a stop.
“No,” a voice said. It was the voice I had heard from the radio, but this time it was coming from my phone. The phone, I knew, had no power. “It is too late. You can not stop.”
I didn’t question it. I sped the car up slightly and everything was quiet again.
My heart was beating faster than I had ever felt. All my senses were on alert, but for what? The night, which had been warm, was starting to feel cold. I made sure my windows were up and reached for my jacket.
Careful not to slow down, I slipped my arms, one by one, into the sleeves. It helped a little, but my face and fingers were still cold.
Without warning the road turned rough. Deep bumps forced me to slow down leading into tight turns. First to the left then to the right.
Between the turns and bumps I lost track of the direction I was going. For all I knew I was heading in the direction I had come.
I was grateful I had an SUV. It was higher than an average car. I don’t know if a car would have made it through without hitting the road bed. I slowed slightly at the thought of damaging my SUV and getting stuck out here.
Another tight turn and deep bump bounced me in my seat. I wondered what would happen if I got stuck. I know I didn’t say anything out loud but the answer was clear.
“You will freeze to death,” the voice from my phone answered. There was a cold sharpness to it. “Do not stop.”
The turns ended and the bumps faded away to flat road. The odometer ticked over again. A single mile had passed. I felt like I had been driving forever. How could I have driven only a single mile?
Then another thought pushed forward. One mile plus one mile. How could I have only been on this road for two miles? I know I was driving slowly, but I had to have gone farther than that.
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Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw something in the trees. Something gray. As I turned my head for a better look, I saw another on the other side. Every time I glanced in their direction another would appear on the opposite side.
Fear was creeping in and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. A shiver ran through me and I trembled with it. "Do not look at them,” the voice ordered from my phone, as I turned my head again. I whipped my head back and forced my attention solely on the road. My chest rising and falling faster with each frightened breath. I struggled to steady my breathing. Panicking would do me no good. I couldn’t risk running off the road. Sliding into a deep ditch or hitting a tree would not end well. "Do not listen,” the phone voice warned. |
But I did. The only sound I could hear was the tires on the road. The seemingly endless forest road with its gray things in the trees.
Then in the back of my mind there was a whisper. It was soft at first, but the more I tried to hear what it was saying, the more voices there seemed to be. They seemed far away, but the longer I listened the closer they came. They were getting louder. There were too many to understand. Some were crying, others shouting. One seemed to be calling to me.
“Do not listen,” the phone voice said again. I almost couldn't hear it over the voices in my head.
I realized it was me. The voices were in my head and I was encouraging them to come closer, because I was listening.
I did the only thing I could think of, I stared at the road and started singing. The longer I sang the farther away the voices sounded, but as soon as I noticed them, they began to come back. Getting louder and closer.
I could feel my heart starting to race again. I could feel myself losing control and started to panic. Suddenly the voices stopped. Everything was silent again.
Relief washed over me for a moment and my eyes fell to the odometer. Two more miles had passed, for a total of four.
I shivered again. I hadn’t noticed before, but it was colder. Painfully colder. My fingers hurt, but I didn’t dare let go of the steering wheel. My face burned when I moved my head.
Then in the back of my mind there was a whisper. It was soft at first, but the more I tried to hear what it was saying, the more voices there seemed to be. They seemed far away, but the longer I listened the closer they came. They were getting louder. There were too many to understand. Some were crying, others shouting. One seemed to be calling to me.
“Do not listen,” the phone voice said again. I almost couldn't hear it over the voices in my head.
I realized it was me. The voices were in my head and I was encouraging them to come closer, because I was listening.
I did the only thing I could think of, I stared at the road and started singing. The longer I sang the farther away the voices sounded, but as soon as I noticed them, they began to come back. Getting louder and closer.
I could feel my heart starting to race again. I could feel myself losing control and started to panic. Suddenly the voices stopped. Everything was silent again.
Relief washed over me for a moment and my eyes fell to the odometer. Two more miles had passed, for a total of four.
I shivered again. I hadn’t noticed before, but it was colder. Painfully colder. My fingers hurt, but I didn’t dare let go of the steering wheel. My face burned when I moved my head.
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I looked up and there before me was a huge lake. It was so big I could hardly see the far side. The full moon was bright above it. Too bright. It was mesmerizing to look at and I found myself being drawn to it.
“It is a trap,” the phone voice hissed. The voice hadn’t led me wrong yet. In fact, it seemed to be guiding me. Perhaps it was right this time too. I forced myself to look away from the beautiful moon and its soft welcoming light. While I had been staring at the moon, I had allowed my car to begin drifting toward the lake. I swerved the car back to the center of the road. The tires squealed in protest, but I couldn’t slow down and I didn’t dare stop. I forced myself to again stare straight ahead at the road. |
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The moonlight seemed to grow brighter, beckoning me to look at its beauty, but I focused on the road and kept driving.
Eventually the light faded, replaced by the deep dark of the forest. The road disappeared in front of me. I could only see what the headlights allowed.
The trees were so thick overhead they blocked out what little comfort the stars had given.
I looked down again, one more mile had ticked over, and the lights went out. Panicked, I looked up, the headlights dimmed but stayed on. I let out the breath I’d been holding and closed my eyes hoping with all my heart they would stay on.
“They are trying to scare you.” Another warning from the phone voice. “They want you to have an accident.”
“But why?” I asked, almost wishing I hadn’t.
I took a quick peek out the side windows of my slowly moving car. The radio, which I know I had turned off, blasted a shrill crackling noise.
I jumped, causing the car to swerve dangerously close to the tree line. Again, the tires squealed and the car jumped to the other side. I went too far this time. One last screech from the tires and the car was in the middle of the road again.
I’ve never felt my heart pound so hard I could hear it. I felt tears stinging in my eyes. One escaped, freezing to my cheek in the ever growing cold. I took the chance and zippered my jacket as high as it could go. As I looked down, I noticed the water in my half empty bottle was frozen.
“What’s wrong?” The voice from the radio sounded cruel. “Having trouble on our road?”
“Our road?” I asked, but before I could ask anything else the phone voice returned.
“Do not listen,” the phone voice instructed.
“What does he know?” The cruel voice laughed from the radio. “Why not listen to us?”
I didn’t reply. I kept staring at the dimly lit road ahead of me. More voices joined in. Teasing, and laughing at me. I tried to turn the radio off but it was already off and all the voices laughed at once. A hurtful, hateful sound.
Eventually the light faded, replaced by the deep dark of the forest. The road disappeared in front of me. I could only see what the headlights allowed.
The trees were so thick overhead they blocked out what little comfort the stars had given.
I looked down again, one more mile had ticked over, and the lights went out. Panicked, I looked up, the headlights dimmed but stayed on. I let out the breath I’d been holding and closed my eyes hoping with all my heart they would stay on.
“They are trying to scare you.” Another warning from the phone voice. “They want you to have an accident.”
“But why?” I asked, almost wishing I hadn’t.
I took a quick peek out the side windows of my slowly moving car. The radio, which I know I had turned off, blasted a shrill crackling noise.
I jumped, causing the car to swerve dangerously close to the tree line. Again, the tires squealed and the car jumped to the other side. I went too far this time. One last screech from the tires and the car was in the middle of the road again.
I’ve never felt my heart pound so hard I could hear it. I felt tears stinging in my eyes. One escaped, freezing to my cheek in the ever growing cold. I took the chance and zippered my jacket as high as it could go. As I looked down, I noticed the water in my half empty bottle was frozen.
“What’s wrong?” The voice from the radio sounded cruel. “Having trouble on our road?”
“Our road?” I asked, but before I could ask anything else the phone voice returned.
“Do not listen,” the phone voice instructed.
“What does he know?” The cruel voice laughed from the radio. “Why not listen to us?”
I didn’t reply. I kept staring at the dimly lit road ahead of me. More voices joined in. Teasing, and laughing at me. I tried to turn the radio off but it was already off and all the voices laughed at once. A hurtful, hateful sound.
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I kept glancing down at the odometer, but in the dark, I couldn’t see it. Every mile seemed to bring something new. Maybe the moon would come back, I hoped. At least it didn’t yell at me and call me foul names.
“You’ll never leave our road.” The radio voice growled, and the other voices laughed, fading to a stop. Something gray brushed over my side window. I looked down, afraid that I had accidentally stopped the car. I could feel it was still moving. I turned my attention slowly to the road. The gray figures were much clearer now. They looked like people. Thin and boney. The gray flowing fabric around them looked like old clothes, ripped and worn. Black circles where their eyes should have been. |
One seemed to reach out to me, beckoning me to come to them.
“Do not look,” the phone voice reminded me. “They are the ones who died on this road. They want you to join them.”
The whisper voices returned in my mind. I could hear them clearer than before. Painful screams, and cries for help echoed in the depths of my mind.
One stood out from the rest and seemed to be coming from my back seat. I almost turned around but stopped remembering the warning not to look.
I started singing again, but this time the voices didn’t fade. They were laughing and teasing me again.
“Thinks she can drone us out, she does,” said the voice from my back seat.
The voices got louder, as I sang, so I stopped singing out loud and sang the song in my head. It worked better, but I could still hear them screaming and yelling for my attention.
From the corner of my eye, I saw fingers appear at the side of the windshield. Boney fingers with gray lifeless skin.
There was a loud scratching sound from outside my door. Something sharp was dragging down the side of my car as I passed. Then a thump like something dropped down on the roof over my head.
The relentless pounding began all around my car. I couldn’t see the gages with the lights out and it was hard to tell if I was still moving.
“The doors are locked. They can’t get in,” I told myself. I took my foot from the gas for a moment.
“Do not stop.” The phone voice warned and I put my foot back on the gas.
I couldn’t see where I was going, or how fast I was getting there. No matter how hard I pressed the pedal the car never seemed to speed up. The miles ticked by slowly, offering the figures the maximum time to torment me.
“Do not look,” the phone voice reminded me. “They are the ones who died on this road. They want you to join them.”
The whisper voices returned in my mind. I could hear them clearer than before. Painful screams, and cries for help echoed in the depths of my mind.
One stood out from the rest and seemed to be coming from my back seat. I almost turned around but stopped remembering the warning not to look.
I started singing again, but this time the voices didn’t fade. They were laughing and teasing me again.
“Thinks she can drone us out, she does,” said the voice from my back seat.
The voices got louder, as I sang, so I stopped singing out loud and sang the song in my head. It worked better, but I could still hear them screaming and yelling for my attention.
From the corner of my eye, I saw fingers appear at the side of the windshield. Boney fingers with gray lifeless skin.
There was a loud scratching sound from outside my door. Something sharp was dragging down the side of my car as I passed. Then a thump like something dropped down on the roof over my head.
The relentless pounding began all around my car. I couldn’t see the gages with the lights out and it was hard to tell if I was still moving.
“The doors are locked. They can’t get in,” I told myself. I took my foot from the gas for a moment.
“Do not stop.” The phone voice warned and I put my foot back on the gas.
I couldn’t see where I was going, or how fast I was getting there. No matter how hard I pressed the pedal the car never seemed to speed up. The miles ticked by slowly, offering the figures the maximum time to torment me.
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The cold was almost too much to bear and I started to feel like I was losing myself. The figures seemed to sense it too and redoubled their efforts. The phone voice said something, but I couldn’t hear it. The screaming and clawing at my car was so loud it hurt my ears.
Suddenly I felt my car stall and roll to a stop. The figures still in the trees began to surround my car. They couldn’t get it, but it felt like a matter of time. The voices grew louder, closer. I put the car in park and covered my ears. It was no use the voices were coming from inside my head. Laughing at my futile efforts to block them out. They were on the hood of my car, pounding on the glass and looking in at me. I closed my eyes. I dared not look unless I had to. |
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I reached for my phone and held it close, hoping for some instruction.
“Start the car!” the phone voice shouted and I dropped the phone to my lap.
I reached for the key as something brushed my hair and I closed my eyes tighter. I turned the key and the car rumbled to life. The lights came back on. I pulled the gear shift into drive and the car lurched forward.
Slowly I forced myself to open my eyes. I had to see where I was going. I had to stay on the road. From the corner of my eye, I saw the figures retreating to the trees. The voices became whispers again before finally leaving me in silence.
Ten miles passed. Ten miles, but how many hours?
Again, my car lost all power, but this time it didn’t roll to a stop and I dared not touch the break. I was rolling down the road in pure darkness.
There was no moon or stars. No distant light from other headlights or far off buildings. I was in pure, absolute darkness.
There in front of me. A pinpoint of red light. It was getting bigger, so I knew it was getting closer.
“Start the car!” the phone voice shouted and I dropped the phone to my lap.
I reached for the key as something brushed my hair and I closed my eyes tighter. I turned the key and the car rumbled to life. The lights came back on. I pulled the gear shift into drive and the car lurched forward.
Slowly I forced myself to open my eyes. I had to see where I was going. I had to stay on the road. From the corner of my eye, I saw the figures retreating to the trees. The voices became whispers again before finally leaving me in silence.
Ten miles passed. Ten miles, but how many hours?
Again, my car lost all power, but this time it didn’t roll to a stop and I dared not touch the break. I was rolling down the road in pure darkness.
There was no moon or stars. No distant light from other headlights or far off buildings. I was in pure, absolute darkness.
There in front of me. A pinpoint of red light. It was getting bigger, so I knew it was getting closer.
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“Do not look,” the phone voice warned. This time the warning felt different. “If you look, you will die.”
I was looking down at the phone in my lap and moved it back to the cupholder. My powerless phone that had been offering warnings, guiding me through this…whatever this was. The red light was getting brighter, closer and I put the heels of my palms tight into my closed eyes and waited. Fighting down the rising fear and threatening tears. The car was silent. There wasn’t even a sound from the tires on the road. Then suddenly everything changed. The cold that had been so painful was replaced but heat, so hot I felt like my skin was on fire. |
The creaking of super-heated metal was all around me. It sounded like my car was melting away.
The screaming returned, but this time it wasn’t coming from my mind. It was out there, in the red light. This time there were no taunting words, only the painful screams of people like me burning as their cars melted around them.
If I moved my hands, if I looked, this would all be over. All the pain, the burning and the screaming, would all be over.
Just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. The cold returned and I heard my car's engine rumble to life again.
I released my eyes and grabbed hold of the steering wheel. Blinking away the disorientation I looked around, terrified of what I might see or what was coming next.
I looked down, eleven miles had passed since I started down this road. I looked up and slammed on the breaks.
There in front of me was the end of the road. There was no room to turn around, not that I wanted to go back. The trees were tight to the sides of the road but there were no figures in them. Where the blacktop ended there was a deep ditch before me. Beyond that I couldn’t see.
I sat there waiting, hoping the phone voice would tell me what to do. I put my car in park and closed my eyes. I don’t know why, but my wish popped into my mind. The one I had made when the voice asked me.
The screaming returned, but this time it wasn’t coming from my mind. It was out there, in the red light. This time there were no taunting words, only the painful screams of people like me burning as their cars melted around them.
If I moved my hands, if I looked, this would all be over. All the pain, the burning and the screaming, would all be over.
Just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. The cold returned and I heard my car's engine rumble to life again.
I released my eyes and grabbed hold of the steering wheel. Blinking away the disorientation I looked around, terrified of what I might see or what was coming next.
I looked down, eleven miles had passed since I started down this road. I looked up and slammed on the breaks.
There in front of me was the end of the road. There was no room to turn around, not that I wanted to go back. The trees were tight to the sides of the road but there were no figures in them. Where the blacktop ended there was a deep ditch before me. Beyond that I couldn’t see.
I sat there waiting, hoping the phone voice would tell me what to do. I put my car in park and closed my eyes. I don’t know why, but my wish popped into my mind. The one I had made when the voice asked me.
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I thought about how nice it would be to never have to worry about being able to pay for something when I needed to.
I don’t know how long I sat there, a minute, an hour? When I finally opened my eyes, I was sitting, parked, at the stop sign. I looked down the road to my right. The road that would take me home. I put my car in drive and turned right. As I drove down the road I took a good look around. The fields, the far-off trees, it was all as it should be. Everything where it’s always been. I pulled into my parking space at the end of my apartment building and sat for a moment. Was it a dream? Was I so tired, I fell asleep at a stop sign? If I did fall asleep, when did I put the car in park? How long was I there? |
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I looked at my phone and remembered it had no power. I looked at my watch, just after four in the morning. It’s only an hour from home to the small airport outside the city.
“Four hours,” I said looking at my bag. I pulled it out and closed the tailgate. I went inside and headed upstairs. I was so tired I laid down on my bed and slept, what was left of the night, in my clothes.
In the morning, I woke up to my boyfriend lying beside me, smiling.
“Long night?” he asked. “What time did you get home?”
“It was around midnight,” I lied. I didn’t know how to explain what happened.
I agreed to go to a barbeque that afternoon. They were friends of ours and I thought it would be a good way to forget the previous night. If I could forget.
I asked what time it was and when he told me it was almost noon, I’ll admit, I was a bit surprised. He said he let himself in, because I wasn’t answering my phone. He put it on the charger when he arrived so it was ready when we wanted to leave.
I climbed into his truck and we started out of town. I found myself heading towards the same road I had been on the night before.
Our friends lived on a farm outside of town. When we got to the stop sign, I asked him if we could take a detour and he agreed as long as I promised to explain it to him later. I agreed and he turned left.
“Four hours,” I said looking at my bag. I pulled it out and closed the tailgate. I went inside and headed upstairs. I was so tired I laid down on my bed and slept, what was left of the night, in my clothes.
In the morning, I woke up to my boyfriend lying beside me, smiling.
“Long night?” he asked. “What time did you get home?”
“It was around midnight,” I lied. I didn’t know how to explain what happened.
I agreed to go to a barbeque that afternoon. They were friends of ours and I thought it would be a good way to forget the previous night. If I could forget.
I asked what time it was and when he told me it was almost noon, I’ll admit, I was a bit surprised. He said he let himself in, because I wasn’t answering my phone. He put it on the charger when he arrived so it was ready when we wanted to leave.
I climbed into his truck and we started out of town. I found myself heading towards the same road I had been on the night before.
Our friends lived on a farm outside of town. When we got to the stop sign, I asked him if we could take a detour and he agreed as long as I promised to explain it to him later. I agreed and he turned left.
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We had been driving for about ten minutes, when I asked him to stop. He pulled over and parked the truck on the side of the road. I got out and walked up to a sign. He followed me, curiosity got the better of him, I guess.
“Have you ever noticed this sign before?” I asked him, as I stared at it. He walked up beside me and looked up at it. “Can’t say I have, but it doesn’t look new,” he answered. “Are you alright?” I looked around and turned my body to face the direction I was going the night before. On my left was one large field. On the right was a corn field and an alfalfa field. A thick hedge row of hawthorn separated the two. |
As I stared at the sign, I heard the screams of grief and pain in my mind. My heart began to race again. From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw something gray moving in the distant trees beyond the fields.
When he slid his arm around me, I jumped. He apologized for scaring me and we walked back to his truck. I didn’t say too much for a while, and he allowed me my silence.
He stopped for gas and I went inside with him to pay. I wanted a pack of gum. We got to the counter and he realized he left his wallet in the cup holder of the truck.
I had my bag with me and told him it was my treat. I was going to use my card, when I noticed something sticking out of the bill fold of my wallet. It was the exact amount I needed to pay for the gas and my gum.
I don’t carry cash anymore. Not many people do these days, but there it was nonetheless. I gave it to the clerk, who gave me a funny smile in return.
“What was all that about?” my boyfriend asked, when we were on the road again.
I told him everything that happened the night before. He agrees it was just a dream brought on by being too tired. We laughed it off.
When he slid his arm around me, I jumped. He apologized for scaring me and we walked back to his truck. I didn’t say too much for a while, and he allowed me my silence.
He stopped for gas and I went inside with him to pay. I wanted a pack of gum. We got to the counter and he realized he left his wallet in the cup holder of the truck.
I had my bag with me and told him it was my treat. I was going to use my card, when I noticed something sticking out of the bill fold of my wallet. It was the exact amount I needed to pay for the gas and my gum.
I don’t carry cash anymore. Not many people do these days, but there it was nonetheless. I gave it to the clerk, who gave me a funny smile in return.
“What was all that about?” my boyfriend asked, when we were on the road again.
I told him everything that happened the night before. He agrees it was just a dream brought on by being too tired. We laughed it off.
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What was on the sign? It was a white square road sign with a big black number eleven on it.
I have driven that road many times since then. At night and during the day. I know these roads. I know there are no side roads or lanes, between the city and the stop sign where I turn right. There is no road sign with the number eleven. |
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