RTW: Night Driving

YA Highway just posted its 100th Road Trip Wednesday writing prompt, and for a lover of heavy-handed, bombastic metaphors like myself it’s a fun one. So prepare yourself for ramblings about life and metaphorical cars…

This Week’s Topic:
What has your writing road trip looked like so far? Excitement? Traffic jams and detours? Where are you going next? 

The car had seen hundreds of thousands of miles, and more than a few crashes. It was well-loved but beat-up, scuffed and dented. A car designed to take rough handling, perfect for a beginner writer. I took it out onto the most remote roads I could find, driving recklessly. Grinding gear changes and screeching breaks around corners.

Scottish weather kicked in inevitably, and the afternoon sun disappeared behind heavy clouds. I pushed the old beast on through the rain.

Then it skidded, straight into a ditch.

The engine cut out and refused to start again.

I sat in the car until the windows fogged up with the cold. The hazard lights blinked steadily, waiting for cars to pass even though I knew this road had almost no traffic.

In the last of the sunlight I rolled up my sleeves, popped the bonnet, poked and prodded and kicked and swore. And at sunset, the engine spluttered and the radio spluttered back on.

I think I prefer night driving, anyway. Sometimes the darkness and quiet makes the road stretch out and makes my skin itch to drive faster and go somewhere, anywhere. But I try to keep it slow, watching for rabbits and deer. The ride’s smooth, and there’s something about the middle-of-nowhere at night that feels right.

Without any real route in mind I detour, circle around, double back. The time feels long, and naps in the back seat don’t satisfy–but still, no point hanging around in one place for too long. Gotta keep moving until morning.