The full moon hung suspended in the air like a beacon of hope, that failed to shine in the darkest hour. The vast sky was pregnated with pinpricks of lights as the twinkling of burned-out stars still remained. Mildly the wind blew in through the open windows, but was absent to me, for I was frozen numb with fear. My voice was soft and inaudible as I wept, wishing something would change, praying for anything to save me. I kept my gaze on the wondrous sky for a moment longer, as if doing so would release my pain and somehow the magical view would restore me to what I had been before, or at least whisk me back home to where I belonged. But that was not going to happen, and I knew it. I blinked away all hope then and shut the door for good to a haunting past that would never let go, before closing my eyes to the dreams that would not be coming.
My knuckles were snow white as I gripped the steering wheel tighter than I had ever held anything before. My head came level to the horizon, and I realized it was time. The moon's pale light lit the empty fields surrounding me, shining over the dirt road almost as though the headlights were still on. Through the streaming tears I could make out the tree looming far in the distance. Blacker than the night around it, it stood magnificent–overwhelming and final.
Frustrations and pain chased away my fears as the devilish lies whispered within me, consuming my thoughts and flooding my mind to the point where I screamed with allegiance. With sudden quickness my right foot released from the brake pedal and stomped the gas, surging the Buick forward at a drastic pace as I lined up the tree. My conscience and will was gone, lost in a pile of freshly scattered dirt and gravel, as I stared down the black object that I wished to see last. Lines of hate wrinkled my face, rippling down through my shivering body to my feet , where the gas pedal lowered farther.
Filled with rage, vengeance, and total helplessness, I watched without remorse as the massive Oak grew near, and Death stood waiting.
Suddenly the car jerked and began to shudder, stalling. I blinked in confusion and wonder as an orange light lit the dashboard with engine failure. My intentions were forgotten quickly as a battle for control was underway. It took all that I had to turn the wheel, to keep the car from drifting towards the steep ditches at either side. My pulse was racing, and I was aware now of my actions as I held the wheel firm with both hands and passed by the tree, missing it by mere inches. The car came to rest dozens of yards into the wheat field, and I swallowed hard. Trembling I moaned, "Thank you, God" and was never happier to be alive.
My knuckles were snow white as I gripped the steering wheel tighter than I had ever held anything before. My head came level to the horizon, and I realized it was time. The moon's pale light lit the empty fields surrounding me, shining over the dirt road almost as though the headlights were still on. Through the streaming tears I could make out the tree looming far in the distance. Blacker than the night around it, it stood magnificent–overwhelming and final.
Frustrations and pain chased away my fears as the devilish lies whispered within me, consuming my thoughts and flooding my mind to the point where I screamed with allegiance. With sudden quickness my right foot released from the brake pedal and stomped the gas, surging the Buick forward at a drastic pace as I lined up the tree. My conscience and will was gone, lost in a pile of freshly scattered dirt and gravel, as I stared down the black object that I wished to see last. Lines of hate wrinkled my face, rippling down through my shivering body to my feet , where the gas pedal lowered farther.
Filled with rage, vengeance, and total helplessness, I watched without remorse as the massive Oak grew near, and Death stood waiting.
Suddenly the car jerked and began to shudder, stalling. I blinked in confusion and wonder as an orange light lit the dashboard with engine failure. My intentions were forgotten quickly as a battle for control was underway. It took all that I had to turn the wheel, to keep the car from drifting towards the steep ditches at either side. My pulse was racing, and I was aware now of my actions as I held the wheel firm with both hands and passed by the tree, missing it by mere inches. The car came to rest dozens of yards into the wheat field, and I swallowed hard. Trembling I moaned, "Thank you, God" and was never happier to be alive.