Javier R De Haro

When the Night Falls

Darkness roams the air. Two headlights slice through the night sky as they make their way toward a small town in the distance. Suddenly the car’s engine starts to flutter. “Just great”, says the boy, as he looks toward the Low Fuel light in the dashboard. Taking his dad’s car without permission was one thing, but having to call him for rescue would really be the cherry on top of an already lousy night. The car’s hiccups slowly wind down as the last fumes of gas are extinguished. He is officially out of gas. As he pulls over to the side of the road, he can’t help but feel a sense of dread. The boy (a 16-year-old if that counts), having barely learned to parallel park, now must now figure out how to get himself out of this predicament.