Estranged

For a moment, she was lost. She found herself standing in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by thistles and thorns and dusts. And all of a sudden a blue sedan appeared and the stranger behind the stirring wheel wholeheartedly offered her a ride a home. But there was no home. She wasn’t even sure where she was going. Confused and scared of being stuck there for a long time, she decided to hitchhike and told the stranger to bring her wherever he wanted too.

At first, she was dazed because the stranger didn’t even complain. In fact, he happily agreed to give her a ride, even if she told him she have no idea where she was going. But after a while, the fear and confusion vanished. She started to enjoy the ride. She enjoyed the scenic panorama of green meadows, the glistening creeks and plateaus—the surroundings literally showed her that the grass is greener on the other side.

She didn’t want to get off. Not only because she was unsure where to go, but because she adored the sights, the company, the ride. The experience was ecstatic. Although there were instances that the trip became wobbly and the roads became rocky, she remained thrilled and happy. But then, a few miles after, the stranger became uneasy. She saw that look in his face—the look that says I am missing the silence. I want the trip by myself. And yes, she saw it coming. She knew that sooner or later, he would ask her to get off because he wanted to be alone, because the air is getting thinner and he cannot breathe. The space is becoming tapered and it is making him claustrophobic.

True enough. The stranger stopped the car and told her those things. And yes, she was just in for a short ride. 

And then again, she found herself standing and now, aching, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded not only by thistles, thorns and dusts, but with the memories of that euphoric and almost cinematic ride she had with this stranger…

Whom she almost fell in love with.