One Wrong Step
She stepped out of the coffee shop right behind him. Both deciding to brave the fat rain drops coming down in sheets in the cold autumn night.
She had seen him every so often at the coffee shop keeping to himself reading and enjoying his drink. She had admired him from afar never building up the nerve to start a conversation.
She would try to think up things to say but they always seemed so silly. She knew she would be too awkward and uncomfortable. She figured he had a girlfriend anyway.
She had walked out behind him before and knew he would walk in the opposite direction from her home once they reached the end of the street the coffee shop was on. She intended to follow him this time. Maybe the dark would hide the flush of her cheeks she gets when nervous that she’s so self conscious of. Then she could finally say something.
As he walked he pulled out some wireless earbuds and put them in picking something to listen to on his phone. Her opportunity was missed she thought. She’ll have to really bother him to get his attention.
They came to the tee at the end of the street. He continued left down the sidewalk. She hesitated for a moment and then followed.
She kept a few paces behind him for a bit. This street was much busier and the traffic splashed loudly as it went by. Light from the cars and street lamps reflected and refracted in the drops and general layer of water on everything creating a disorienting effect.
The pounding of her heart in her ears grew in intensity as she closed the gab between them.
She was an arms length away from him now. All she had to do was reach out and grab his elbow. She hesitated again.
He made a sudden turn stepping off the sidewalk into the street.
Neither of them noticed the sedan.
He rolled over the hood his head crushing in the windshield then tumbled over the roof flopping down with a loud thud in the street.
She stood frozen staring at his crumpled form. The entire top of his skull was laid bare. His scalp having been torn away. That image of the wet light pink sheen of the exposed bone has stuck with her ever since.
A big thank you to Microcosm for the writing prompts and opportunity to have my work read!
Colin Taisey is a husband, father, and professional firefighter that enjoys writing fiction for fun. The stories tend to be a bit dark and tragic.
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this story and have a few minutes please read some of my other work.
