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Sunlight And Driving

The Foggy City Saves Lives

By Yess BrycePublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Sunlight And Driving
Photo by Moritz Kindler on Unsplash

The light was green, yet the car did not move. Honks arose from the vehicles behind him, and the woman in the passenger seat yelled for him to “DRIVE”. The light changed to yellow, then red. He looked at his passenger with tearing eyes. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t do it” and he waved his hands frantically to the traffic behind him. Angry stares and even angrier hand gestures greeted his gaze in the mirror.

The light came round again, back to green. Full circle, just like life, he thought to himself. Looking at the lovely woman seated next to him, he sighed. Stepping on the gas to move the vehicle forwards, she grabbed his arm. “Not YET babe, it's RED”, and he stomped on the brakes.

By Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

His nerves now were shot, shaking and trembling, he didn’t think he could finish the trip. This was too much, too hard, too fucking scary. How do people do this every day of their lives? The traffic sped past in front of them, back and forth, so quick and fast, faces blurring through the glass. His hands were at ten and two on the wheel, gripping with white knuckled fierceness. “Breathe, babe, just breathe. I’ll take over if you want..?” His lady was so understanding, so loving, so supportive.

“No” was his reply. Nothing more. He could do this. It was as simple as stop and go, right? People drive these behemoth massive beasts all over the country every day. Just because he had fear of it didn’t mean he couldn’t do it. He could overcome it.

The day he lost his sister was decades ago, but it still stopped him in his tracks almost daily. She had been his mentor, his best friend. She had been driving that day, taking him to softball practice. That day had been hot, as it always seemed to be. Searing white sunlight was the entire reason she was gone.

By Daoudi Aissa on Unsplash

Stopped at the red light, the sun in their faces, she hadn’t seen the light change. She hadn’t noticed that she shouldn’t drive forwards, and that was the last moment he had with her. And today it hurt too much to drive. It was like a movie replaying in his head, his hand reaching out to stop her, but too late.

Anytime he had sun in his face, he saw her. Her bright smile, her jingling laugh. Maybe someday he could let go of the feeling that it was his fault she was gone, and maybe not. At least today was cloudy, the fog had settled in like it does this time of year. Karl the Fog was locally famous, and known round the world to be a damping force. San Francisco was the least sunny city he could find.

By Ziggy Stone on Unsplash

Flexing his fingers on the steering wheel, he took a deep breath, and the light changed. The steep hills of the city kept him with his foot on the pedal, ready and alert. Inching the car forwards he heard shouts of joy and encouragement from the crowd around him. He had missed three green lights so far, and he was lucky the city was in a good mood today, he was worried on the wrong day he might get shot. Road Rage was no joke. People were short on patience, but he couldn't do more than he was.

“Good job love” his wife whispered, and she squeezed his knee. Rolling down the hill, the cityscape opening before them, he could see the grid of streets and lights and stop signs, blinking and shining like a sparkling game. So many obstacles to overcome. So many opportunities to remember her, and forget her, simultaneously.

By John Moeses Bauan on Unsplash

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About the Creator

Yess Bryce

Currently halfway through my Creative Writing degree with Oregon State University, in an attempt to leave the cooking and farming world of work. Newly hired as a Contributor to Edible Magazine! It's working!

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