Prompted Shorties

Flat Tire

Prompt: You're traveling in a rental car when you hear the thumping of a flat tire. You pull over and discover the thumping is not coming from a flat, after all, but from the trunk. What or who is making the noise?

Story:

The air breathed a heavy evening breeze in this fine afternoon drive. I'm in this lovely rented car, back in my home country and I couldn't wait for my brother's wedding.

The sun glistened at the rear view mirror and the sound of the waves crashing beneath the cliffs calmed my nerves. Why was I nervous in the first place? Probably because I get to see my family again, after all these years, only now I bothered to come back.

At least I'm coming home now right?

I hit a bump, then heard a thump. Instinctively I stopped the car and went out to look at my tires. I couldn't have a flat tire. Not now. Even if there's a spare at the trunk, I wouldn't know how to change it.

I checked all four tires, but none of them were flat.

"Weird" I breathed. As I was walking back to the driver's seat, I heard the thump again.

I stopped and looked around me. Where's that sound coming from? Then I heard it again, two more times. My deductive skills tell me that it was coming from the trunk. I unlocked the hatch from under my seat then proceeded to go to the trunk.

My heartbeat was rising as I nervously put my hands on top of the trunk. I closed my eyes and opened it slowly. I smelled something quite resembling a newspaper filled with dog urine.

Then I heard a bark, a cute tiny baby bark. I opened my eyes and saw a cute puppy locked inside a cage. Now who would do that?

Who locks their puppy in a cage inside the trunk?

I took the puppy out, as it wagged its tail when I was opening its hatch.

"What a cute puppy. Yes you are" He was definitely cute, but he smelled.

I noticed a dog tag, and inspected it. Cody was written, but no number, or return address or whatsoever. I investigated the trunk and looked around for clues. I saw an edge of what looks like a folded piece of paper underneath the cage, so I took it and unfolded the paper.

It was a note, it read: Grant, congrats on your wedding. I hope you'll accept my wedding gift, I'm sorry that I will not be attending your wedding, seeing as I cannot be physically there anymore. If this doesn't get to you in time, it will eventually. I hope you find the joy that you're looking for in your bride or wife, depending on when you get this. Thank you again. You know, for, everything and don't worry. It's never your fault.

P.S. I know you like puppies, but if you don't like the name, you can always change it.

- Your Good Friend Cody Simmons

Who's Cody? And why was the puppy named Cody as well? I drove to our home faster, with the puppy sitting on my lap, and told Grant everything. He called Cody that evening but it wasn't Cody that picked up.

Grant told me Cody was like his "fling" back in college, when he was experimenting on his sexuality. He never told this to anyone but me, not even our parents know. Cody was a sweet guy, they were together for months, but then Grant met Chloe and now they're getting married, Cody became resilient and distant, and pretty soon, they stopped talking to each other. All Grant got from that phone call was Cody's lawyer saying that he died two days ago, he was found on his bed overdosed with some pills on the table beside the bed, a note and oddly enough, a legit last will and testament.

Grant was to come for the reading of the will in a few days because he was mentioned there. Well actually, it was only Grant and Cody's parents.

I couldn't sleep that night. Cody must've still had strong feelings for Grant. So strong that he chose to end his life, than to spend it knowing you can't be with the one you love.

That's just rough.