Summer Drive - A Short Story

It was a gorgeous summer afternoon; just right for a drive in the country.  I was cruising along the familiar road and simply admiring my surroundings.  The wildflowers growing on either side were breathtaking and their sweet aroma seemed to saturate the air.  The light breeze danced in my hair and tickled my neck.  I felt satisfied and free.

I began to strum my fingers on the steering wheel and hum along to the radio.  I hadn't a care in the world.  I didn't know how long or how far I had been driving, but was certainly not lost.  I also hadn't seen a single other motorist but that was just the way I wanted it.

However, as I turned a bend I saw there was a fork in the road ahead.  I was suddenly beyond where I had ever been and did not quite know where to go.  Still being quite a ways from this mysterious crossroads I continued cruising along.

As I drew nearer to the fork I could see that I would have to turn.  There were several different directions I could take, but the road I was currently on came to a dead end.  I strained my eyes to read the various signs, but could not make out any of the words.

Panic began to set in as I wrestled with my indecisiveness.  Which way would be best?  Were some of the roads dead-ends?  Did any of them lead somewhere I didn't want to be?  What would take me back home?  I simply could not decide which way to go.

As I neared the intersection I began to ease on the brake.  I would simply stop for a few minutes and ponder which way to go, or perhaps just turn around.  But I wasn't slowing down!

I added more pressure to the brake and uneasily glanced down at the pedal.  Everything seemed normal but I wasn't stopping.  The speedometer caught my eye and I realized that I was speeding up!  With this unwelcoming fork just a few feet away I slammed on the brakes with all my might.  I heard my own tires screeching but still continued to accelerate.  I desperately spun the steering wheel but the car refused to do anything but speed forward.  I scrunched my eyes shut and threw my hands up, bracing myself for some sort of crash.

Gasping, I quickly sit up.  My eyes slowly adjust to the darkness and I realize I'm safe in my own bed.  It was all a dream.  There was no summer drive, no fork in the road, no uncontrollable car.  After a few minutes I'm calm enough to lay back against my pillow.

But all at once, my blood goes cold and my heart nearly stops as the horrid truth hits me like an icy wind.  It wasn't a dream, it's reality.