Edictum

Prologue

        Two perfect rows of vivid, autumn trees lined the narrow road. The sun shone bright overhead, turning the ground into a forest of shadows. The branches swayed with the breeze, causing the small amounf of sunlight allowed to peak through and play an unstrategized game of peek-a-boo. 

        A young man let up on the accelerator, traveling past the trees while the wind rushed in his face. He drummed on the steering wheel while singing "Simple Man" , cheeks flushed red as he hit a wrong note and threw his head back into a fit of laughter. A huge smile crossed his face as he soaked in the nostalgic scenery.

        This road had been vital to getting anywhere and everywhere growing up. It met the tires of the old family car every schoolday morning since Pre-K. Endured the sweaty miles run training for football tryouts freshman year. Provided the perfect view for every moonlit walk to and from town for purposeless reasons with petty girls, and then watched as an old Ford truck left, packed to the brim with things from the past, ready to start his future. 

        It had been almost a year since he had come home from school. A 6 hour drive had him worn out, but in only a few moments he would be reunited with everything that helped build him into the young man he had become. 

        He pushed the accelerator in a tad more and took a deep breath. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a lightless figure standing on the side of the road. He turned his head back to get another look and saw only the trees that he had been following for the past 5 miles. He directed his attention back towards the road. He immediately cut the wheel while slamming on breaks, sliding head on into a tree. Becoming one. 

        Ambulance sirens blared and bright lights flickered as a group of men stood on the side of the road evaluating what happened. Folded arms and confused faces, muttering things like "what a shame" and "such a good kid", "such a terrible way to go." This road that had been so crucial in connecting any outside life had now taken his.

                                                A dark figure stands in the middle of the road.