Short Stories

Red Light

The road ahead called me. A silent hum hypnotized me as I gazed towards the future. Slowly releasing the break, the car choked as the glow on our faces switched from red, to amber. The car sputtered to life as we sat, anticipating a green 'GO!'. I looked to my right: no one. Nobody here to stop us from shooting off into the soft glow that was quickly dropping behind the silhouetted trees ahead, like an eye fighting to stay awake, but giving in to the summoning of gentle sleep. Looking ahead, a line of speed machines grew anxious of the same; they waited to roll off beside the queue that had suddenly formed behind us, aching to drive past us to where our cars once were.

To my left, she sat, listening to the music that boomed out of the radio, filling up the vehicle, however imperceptible to those outside. She stared at the empty lane beyond and began to sing. She bounced around in her seat, turning to face me as her lips moved perfectly in time to the music, hitting every note flawlessly. That's what she is: perfect. A smile stretched across my face, matching her own displaying all my teeth to the world around us as I bobbed my head to the beat. Joining in, I thought just one, clear thought: I'm going to marry her someday.

The light we had anticipated for so long flashed before us that pure fluorescent green. I pressed accelerate. The car lurched forward, and we moved toward the setting sun.

A quiet revving of another car grew louder and louder and louder as we pulled forward. A glimpse of red darted into my peripheral vision and I turned my head slightly to see what it was. I stared out the passenger side window just in time to watch a car rush towards us as I drove on helpless, paralyzed, unable to stop. Forward. Forward. Forward! My foot continued to push accelerate, ignoring my brain screaming "Stop! Stop!".

Without warning, the car flew sideways, flipping over as a scream ripped through the crashing and skidding and swerving, glass shatters splitting through everything. Thrown forward, my seatbelt cut deep in my neck and streaks of pain ripped through my arms and face as the glass embedded itself deep into my skin. The air bag burst from the car, pushing me back into my seat.

The car crashed back down, however, upside down. Arms hanging down, the seatbelt clutching me and holding me in my seat and my foot jammed between the pedals, I slowly turned my head, the music still blasting. I could see people rushing towards us, sirens blaring. A man tore the door open and stared at us, saying something but all I could hear was a piercing whistle throughout my throbbing head. I looked to my left, ignoring the agonizing pain that stung my entire body. Dents ran up, down and across the passenger side door, jagged and sharp, and the window was completely shattered. Then there she was, hanging her seat. Lifeless.

And it was all my fault.