Loss and Longing

This is a longish story I started writing many years ago.

 

“Have a good weekend Stevie. I’ll see you on Monday” Rachel called before opening the back door of the shop and running for her car.  

“Bye Rachel” Stevie Fielding yelled back to one of her closest friends and her workmate as she hurried to lock the door and then run for her car through the wind and rain. It had been a horrible day weather wise, keeping the customers away, and it didn’t look like it would be improving any time soon. Slamming the driver’s door after clambering in, Stevie pushed her wavy brown hair off her face. Grabbing the hair tie she always wore on her wrist, Stevie pulled her wet hair up and tied it up in a pony tail. Then wiping her wet hands on her thighs she started the car. It was Friday night and her last day of work for the week. Stevie was glad to be finished but she was far from carefree. As ever there were too many worries at home to think about. Stevie glared out at the rain as she considered her mounting problems. 

The deserted road was very familiar to her but there were few street lights so it was always dark. She drove along it at least twice a day and on some days many more times. She knew it like the back of her hand. But she never liked driving along it in the rain. She couldn’t wait to get home and out of the weather but when she was only about a quarter of the way there, on rounding a bend, she was confronted by a dark form on the road in front of her. Her head lights picking it out in the dark, Stevie gasped and span the wheel to dodge it. But as soon as she did, it then took off across the road in front of her and she slammed on the breaks. But on the wet surface her car just skidded and Stevie could do nothing to control it. She hung on to the wheel, her knuckles turning white and as her car spun, she closed her eyes and waited for the impact she knew must come. The only positive thing was that there was no other traffic on the road.  She had lost sight of the animal in the confusion but she hadn’t felt an impact so hoped she hadn’t hit it. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.