328
I'm trying to be patient, I am, but I talk to myself in the car on the way home from work, and those are the only decent conversations I have anymore. I could do with a friend.
Scary place
I heard the engine of my car stutter, and then the ignition cut out. I shifted into neutral and guided the car to the side of the road. I parked and turned off my headlights.
Great, I thought, this is just great. I sighed and unbuckled my seat belt. I pulled my purse from the floor and took out my cellphone, flipping it open. The screen blinked "Low battery" twice, and then turned off. I pushed the power button but nothing happened. Dead phone. I pushed it back into my purse and turned around in the seat. At least I just passed a gas station just back around the curve.
I looked around outside, but I couldn't see anything. The sky was pitch black and there weren't any street lights here. I pulled on my jacket, picked up my purse and stepped outside of the car. I shut the door and locked it.
The air felt damp around me and then I realized it was mist blowing through the air. I pulled my hood up. I walked back toward the gas station, and I noticed my senses were primed. I heard the gravel skittle beneath my feet and a rustling breeze through the cornstalks to my left. The air smelled brisk and sharp, autumn in its prime. I kept walking, looking forward and back to see if anyone else was around.
I hoped I was the only one out there. I walked around the curve of the road and I saw the flickering neon sign up ahead. A sickening shade of yellow, almost-orange that shone through the mist.
I crossed to the other side of the road and then I heard a louder rustling in the cornstalks where I just stood. I froze with my back to the street. The gas station was open, I could tell from here. I wanted to walk in and ask the clerk if I could use his phone, but my feet wouldn't move. Maybe what I felt was left over from primal instincts. If I don't move, it won't see me. I thought the instinct we were supposed to keep was fight or flight. In my mind, I reminded myself how silly this was. No one was out there. Nothing was in the cornstalks. It was my imagination, frightened thoughts mixing with the chilling atmosphere.
And yet I heard something take a breath, my ears were so sensitive. I heard the gravel shift, something moving its feet.
I looked ahead and counted the steps to the clerk's desk. How fast could I get there? Would that thing behind me chase me?
I needed to look over my shoulder to see what was there. Probably nothing, and later I'd laugh about how I scared myself.
But if there was something standing there, watching me?
I could almost feel it waiting for my move. I took a deep breath and ran for the neon lights, full sprint.
The growl started low, guttural, and it grew into something like a roar.
Great, I thought, this is just great. I sighed and unbuckled my seat belt. I pulled my purse from the floor and took out my cellphone, flipping it open. The screen blinked "Low battery" twice, and then turned off. I pushed the power button but nothing happened. Dead phone. I pushed it back into my purse and turned around in the seat. At least I just passed a gas station just back around the curve.
I looked around outside, but I couldn't see anything. The sky was pitch black and there weren't any street lights here. I pulled on my jacket, picked up my purse and stepped outside of the car. I shut the door and locked it.
The air felt damp around me and then I realized it was mist blowing through the air. I pulled my hood up. I walked back toward the gas station, and I noticed my senses were primed. I heard the gravel skittle beneath my feet and a rustling breeze through the cornstalks to my left. The air smelled brisk and sharp, autumn in its prime. I kept walking, looking forward and back to see if anyone else was around.
I hoped I was the only one out there. I walked around the curve of the road and I saw the flickering neon sign up ahead. A sickening shade of yellow, almost-orange that shone through the mist.
I crossed to the other side of the road and then I heard a louder rustling in the cornstalks where I just stood. I froze with my back to the street. The gas station was open, I could tell from here. I wanted to walk in and ask the clerk if I could use his phone, but my feet wouldn't move. Maybe what I felt was left over from primal instincts. If I don't move, it won't see me. I thought the instinct we were supposed to keep was fight or flight. In my mind, I reminded myself how silly this was. No one was out there. Nothing was in the cornstalks. It was my imagination, frightened thoughts mixing with the chilling atmosphere.
And yet I heard something take a breath, my ears were so sensitive. I heard the gravel shift, something moving its feet.
I looked ahead and counted the steps to the clerk's desk. How fast could I get there? Would that thing behind me chase me?
I needed to look over my shoulder to see what was there. Probably nothing, and later I'd laugh about how I scared myself.
But if there was something standing there, watching me?
I could almost feel it waiting for my move. I took a deep breath and ran for the neon lights, full sprint.
The growl started low, guttural, and it grew into something like a roar.
322
There are days I feel I could shift the world,
Bear its weight on my shoulders and move the Earth.
Today is not one of those days.
Bear its weight on my shoulders and move the Earth.
Today is not one of those days.
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