It was a normal day. I was just your average 25-year-old, just making ends meet.
I leaned back in my office chair exhausted from the day. I looked out the window and saw it was night already. I checked the time on my computer and grumbled "it's only 5 and its already night".
Getting into work when the sun is rising and leaving when the sun is barely at the ends of its time in the sky. "I guess this is the life that awaits everyone after college" I sighed.
I had just moved to this city leaving everything I knew behind to pursue a career.
My family, My friends, My girlfriend, My barber. Everything I've ever known is now a sixteen-hour drive away.
I looked around the office and realized everyone had already left. "Perks of working at a software company I guess" except being a new hire I had to be in office as much as possible.
"Well, at least in the beginning. Then I can slack off later after I've shown my usefulness to my boss", I chucked as I thought to myself.
After brooding about the future for some time. I tiredly grabbed my things and headed to my car.
As I stepped out into the parking lot, I shivered and pulled up my jacket to my chin. "I will never get over this winter weather"
Coming from the south, I am not nearly built for this weather.
"At least I am putting my new winter jacket to get use" I say. "Money well spent"
As I get into my car, I look out to the empty parking lot and empty streets. "Only one more year of this and I can look for a new job back at home. "
──────────────────────────
I wasn't supposed to die that day.
I remember the snow before anything else. Thick, heavy sheets slamming against the windshield as I drove home from work. Headlights blurred into streaks. My Spotify crackled. Everything felt muted, distant, like the world was warning me but didn't know how.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
"Just ten more minutes," I muttered. "Almost home."
The light ahead turned yellow. I eased off the gas.
I never saw the ice on the bridge ahead of me.
I feel the wheels lose traction.
I see the back of my own car in my peripheral vision as my car's tail whips around to my left.
I am in a spin, I panic and remember what my coworkers told me.
"Turn the wheel into the spin" "Hit the Brake slowly"
I am getting motion sickness as I flip my eyes back from the front of the car and the rearview mirrors.
The smell of burnt rubber fills my nostrils.
The sound of snow hitting the car or is that hail? I don't know this climate is too new to me.
I then look forward and see the biggest tree I've ever seen looming over me.
Then white light.
No pain.
No fear.
Just… ending.
Okay maybe a little fear…