The Long Ride Home

The rain continued to fall as I headed home after work.  The red lights were everywhere, and I was already late getting back.  It was treacherous as the roads flooded a little.  This was not the day I needed since I was already late getting to work due to this awful shower.  The slushy, slippery byways are just as bad as those who cannot drive.  I cannot lie about the need for water, but I wish it would rain on my days off.  Still passing, the slow drivers were just trying to stay safe.  My four-wheel drive SUV could handle most road conditions, including the snow.

 Muffled booms in the distance were not giving any hope of an end. As the sky continued to spew its liquid, the lanes slowed down, and the cars started to hydroplane.  This would mean another hold-up and stuck in the watery mess.  If my day was already hectic, it would just become worse than I had expected.  As the metal crunched ahead, I slowed down to a halt.  The roadway stopped entirely, with many cars honking as if we could move.  Flashing lights and sirens entered on the side of the road.  They, too, were trying to keep from wrecking.  Yet, the number of accidents was undetermined and could not be seen.  I was not getting out by any means to see the sight but would hope the cops could get traffic started again.  No sight of anyone behind me, I began to back up only to see more coming down the road.  Gently pushing my chair back, I started snoozing as I was tired.  The sound of rain was perfect for a lovely nap while the chaos was sorted. 

Suddenly, the glass shattered, and I was awakened by the rain entering my car.  Even the moment of sleep was disturbed as I could see my back window was out during this turbulent rainstorm.  All the stuff in my trunk was soaked, but I could do nothing.  The traffic was stopped, and I was getting wet as the cops took their sweet time to clear a path.  I looked back to see the broken glass and grabbed my raincoat in my backseat.  Annoyed enough with my face as red as it could be and my soaked car inside and out.  There was no point in checking the back since it would make me better than I was.  Can this day just get better instead of worse was the only thing I wanted.  As the rain continued to pour, I could just sit there and even relax about what this bill would cost me.

 More lights started to show as the ambulances arrived for the injured, but the cars seemed to be moving to the side of the road. It was a relief now that I had to get home to put plastic on my car to prevent more damage from being inflicted. The saying is correct: when it rains, it pours.  This was literally happening.  At least other vehicles were turning on, and there was some hope that the traffic movement would be welcoming.  This day could not get any worse than cold and wet while stopped for multiple accidents.  The slush was now what I felt, as tears could not even be seen on my face.  The winds were my enemy as they intensified the storm.  The rain should have ended last night but somehow lasted into the afternoon; so much for the weather reports. 

As the cars started to move forward, the accident scene was still unseen, with the blinding rain and the darkness setting for the evening.  I was already wet enough to pass the flashing lights.  The ambulances had left, and the cops looked miserable walking in the rain.  Yet I could relate with my back window being broken out.   As the last lights of the police cars cleared, I could only scream.   The bloodiest head was arising from my trunk area, moaning.   Almost hitting the vehicle in front of me, I pulled to the side.  Dashing out of my car back to the cops.  It was time to leave at this point.  They just looked at me funny and did not believe my story. 

One of the soaked cops just smiled and walked to my car. His face was panicked as he called on his radio for another bus for another victim.  Other cops were running there, too.  The sirens started again as the new ambulance approached my car.  The tears just streamed as the day could get worse.  The young man was in the back of my car the entire time.  It felt like a horror film, and I was soaking wet.  The man was removed and taken to the hospital.  The cops then had to take pictures in the rain of my car for their reports while I was allowed to sit in one of their cars. Sobbing and shivering was my only reaction to this entire day.   I had to let it out, and the bloody head just made it worse. 

I had to tell my story to the cops, who looked at me.  They filled out their reports before I could be let go.  They did not give me a ticket since I was parked at the time of the glass breaking.  All I could do was sit there with my best composure as I tried to listen to their instructions.   However, it was determined that his motorcycle had slid, and he flung himself into my car.  His bike was found on the side of the road.  I was glad to be innocent but wanted to never drive again.  Yet I will always check my mirror now.