FlashFic: Traffic Jam

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It was a perfect day to drive up the coast. Sunshine glittered off the water to the horizon. Wind doused Kenneth inside his convertible, dashing his floppy hair around his face. He turned a bend in the road and screeched his tires as he came to a halt. Cars lined up as far as he could see.

Not so perfect anymore.

His foot tapping impatiently, Kenneth stuck his head out to see what was going on. Didn’t work. Wouldn’t have helped anyway. At this rate, he’d be late for the presentation. Hopefully the rest of his team didn’t get caught in this mess. Sarah left long before he did, so she should nearly be at Peterson and Sons by now.

He grabbed his cell and punched up Sarah on speed dial. The call rang through to her voicemail. Kenneth’s brow drew down in confusion. Sarah was never more than two feet away from her iPhone. Grumbling, he slipped his phone into the pocket and settled in. The exhaust fumes were getting thick, but traffic would probably start moving as soon as he got out to move around. He picked up his phone and called his fiancée again. Voicemail. Again. Maybe the repeated ringing would get her attention? No.

He was nearly tempted after a while to test his theory about getting out of the car, if only to prompt some motion on the roadway. Traffic had stopped for an hour already and he couldn’t even pass the time talking to Sarah. She wasn’t answering her phone despite his repeated attempts to make contact.

He jumped when Sarah leaped over the car door and slid into the passenger seat. “Sarah! What in hell?”

“Better than my slamming the door as usual, Kenny,” she grinned. He had to give her that one.

“What’s going on? Where did you come from?”

“There’s a real nasty accident up there around the next bend. Someone bought it,” she replied with a shrug. Just then an ambulance passed on the shoulder heading toward the accident followed by a medical examiner’s van. “Won’t be long now,” Sarah commented.

“Why weren’t you answering?” Kenneth pressed, wiggling his iPhone at her.

“Hm. Must’ve been on silent after that meeting this morning. I guess I forgot.” Made sense in an anyone-but-Sarah kind of way. Kenneth frowned at her, but she shrugged again with a grin.

“Look,” she continued. “You have all the materials and you’re the one who really knows the presentation. Sure, I knew my part, but I was just window dressing. Go on up there and make me proud, Kenny.”

He frowned. “You’re not making sense, Sarah. You’re acting like you won’t be there.”

“Try to keep up, Kenny.” She gave him an exasperated look and a hair flip. He loved her long, dark hair, so pretty against her pale skin. “Oh, here comes my ride. I love you, Kenny. Drive safely.”

She blew him a kiss and hopped over the door. As the medical examiner’s van slowly moved past, she jumped right through the side panel and disappeared. A horn caught his attention and he realized he was staring at the empty space left by the van. By his girl. Traffic was moving. Numb, he put his foot on the accelerator and fell into line.

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