Last drive
I went for a drive like I've done countless times befor. I checked my pressures an fluids, she was ready an willing to be pushed hard and flogged in the canyons. She loved it as much as I did, it wasn't just driving a machine it was like being between the sheets with a lover. I knew her and she knew me, we looked after each other.
Like many drives before it wasn't done just for the joy of it but it was my therapy. It calmed me and allowed my mind to relax.
The drive to the canyons was nice an slow and was used to mentally prepare myself for the drive. To go over what I had learned and prepare my mind for the unknown. But in the back of my head I had a feeling I should turn around. I've had it before but i can never cave in to the fear. That's all it was anyhow. I could never live with myself wondering what if. I have to push it.
We got to the canyons and I took a deep breath, said some nice words to her and patted the dash to ease her. The drives about to begin.....turn one open her up a bit and get the tires going, feeling the g-forces pulling forwards and backwards and side to side going through the hills. Were pushing 70% it's time to drop the hammer and go full tilt, push myself past the breaking point and feel the instincts of the trained mind take over.
On the ragged edge we were no room for error, no mistake. Perfection or almost certain death. I've done it countless times before. As I was rounding the blind corner, car in a set an tires scrambling for traction there they came. Two dipshits racing side by side down the mountain in my lane. I knew what was next, it was all slow motion to me an I saw every moment with the clarity of unprecidented precission.
The one in my lane panicked and slammed on the brakes like a fool. He was already using his tires to turn there was nothing left to stop with an so he slid into the rear of the other car. In a fraction of a second they became one. My mind still analyzing hoping for a gap to drive through but nothing. I stayed true to my line and said goodbye cause I'm about to die.
We hit with a combined speed of 120mph joining all three cars as one sending us all down the mountain over the cliff. Surprisingly I didn't die in the impact. I went barreling down the mountain, glass and dirt flying. Sparks turning to flames. And as the flames engulfed me I thought to myself I should have turned back and listened to my gut but then I realized that if I did I would have always wondered and I can't live with that. The last thought to go through my mind before the explosion destroyed us was at least I'm going out driving instead of some schmuck having sex. I couldn't have asked for it any differently........
By Matthew Branton
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