Asleep at the WheelIt was a cold night in December, camber surface I remember, amber fog and bogs of rain, maintained to stain my cloudy brain. Sustained relentless specks of snow flowed on and on and grew to grow, into a show of snowy white, while I drove home this sleepless night.
No flight for me, agreed to drive, with pride and presents I’d arrive, at 5 a.m. that winter’s morn, an ornament of mental worn. I’d sworn to make it home alright, “No Worries All,” I’d said contrite, excited by Vacation’s call, recall the trek and deck the halls.
But all was not good on that drive, deprived of sleep, my dreams arrived, alive but riding without eyes to guide my sight, my night took five. Revived, I woke up suddenly, and saw no life in front of me, relieved to know I’d only dozed, but for how long, nobody knows.
The story goes and starts like this; I was a boy, a buoy of bliss, existing on and kept afloat, by a dear friend I always wrote. One note from her could blur my pain, and paint a scene that should be framed, refrain from saying too much more, about that time I did adore.
Before my trip could start that night, I’d got a call from her inviting me to greet for gifts and glee, while underneath a Christmas tree. Agreed to meet for just a few, I knew I had to go but threw away my watch to watch the time, submerged myself in the sublime.
So primed and ready for the trip, I sipped on Coke and choked down strips of peppered pizza on my lips, with dips of ranch, I ran the risk, of filling up too heavy for, the future freight that lay before, my forge of course once out the door, some dormant torment was in store.
A roar of laughter and farewells soon swelled the night and I compelled to leave their home, roam on my way, away from Reno I would stray. I sprayed and splashed myself with water, summoned human teeter totter, plotting ways in which to stay and pave the drive another day.
I’d say to anyone who’d ask, “Oh, I’ll be fine; I’ve got this task,” and then attacked the pitch black road, coasting along through postal codes. I rode along and flowed through songs, of Christmas spirit sing along, and before long my lips did meet, sweet Mountain Dew, I grew complete.
A feat of travel such as this, alone and late, brought reminisce, amiss while missing my friend Justin, since that July, I’d been adjusting, to his death, his breath was taken, a fate to never reawaken, forsaken but never forgotten, a lot of rain, a day of rotten.
While streams of sadness wet my mind, I found relief in the reminder that some merry time was here, the 25th had come this year. I cleared my head and sped along, my heater on and before long; I’d be at home amassed in masses, of Molasses, milk in glasses.
Lapsing in and out of thoughts, I sought to distance from distraught, I fought so hard to clear my head; perhaps I led myself to bed. I read the sign designed to show, how many miles left to go; the snow was matting the plateau, which mapped my final picture show.
Awoke to sounds of grinding tires, tired from a mind expired, mired in a dire slate; I took a trip, but stayed in State. My state of conscious was confused, how could I let myself refuse, the use of rest stop conversation, I wouldn’t rate my mood “elation.”
Placing patience with frustration, muttered to myself, “Awaken!” took a break and broke in sigh, so thankful that I didn’t die. My eyes were groggy, stunned; mind-boggled, bottled up my fear, full throttle, pottled puddles of some water, washed my eyes, guised dreams to slaughter.
Sauntered back out to the highway, hit the road unloading delay, deciding not to tell a soul of how I just lost all control. Strolling back into my motions, waves of relief sprayed like oceans, learning quite a big life lesson, rest thereof is of the essence.
Essentially, I’d made it halfway, Tonopah was in my pathway, pass three more hours, hit the hay, and say hello to a new day. “Just pay attention, tension free, please clean your mind from what it’d seen, redeem your strength and tough this out; erase the sprout of any doubt.”
I doubt I made it more than seconds, before my second reckoned wreckage, checked my conscience into sleep, the place I didn’t want to be. Before, my car just slid off road, out onto dirt, I woke and slowed, my cruising vehicle to stop, no sign of damage from a pop.
Hop forward to the present coasting, cruising 88 and toasting, posting up a record time, climbing out of clouded grime. Primed and ready for a break, a BK visit I would make, I made it to that very thought, before my sleepiness re-shot.
I fought a dream and surely lost, woke up in darkness, eyes were crossed, exhausted once but now awake; I scattered screams and slammed the brake. Waking up in such a fright, I lost the sight of wrong from right, ignited horror scorched my eyes, what happened next, I should have died.
I tried to turn my wheel and spin, into a circle and begin to stop my car from going deeper, drop my death from creeping steeper. Sleep had crept my way before, without a dent in either door, on fours; I thanked my lucky stars, for sparing me any more scars.
Farther on, my luck would change, my lease on life would rearrange, exchanged a few solemn goodbyes, as my car flipped into the night. In spite of shock I stayed alert, I clenched the wheel with palms of hurt, I hurled on through heartless dirt, I tasted desert for dessert.
Flirting with death, my breath stayed counting, “1 flip, 2 flip,” Angels mounting. “3 flip, 4 flip, still react, 5 flip, 6 flip, fade to black.”
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I reawaken in a ditch, with swollen eyes that need a stitch, an itchy breeze blows through my hair, I comb it down and drown in scare. Prepared to not survive the crash, I was alive, but head was mashed, my ashy hand now filled with blood, my skull was flooding from the thud.
I kicked the crud out of the windshield, unsealed a strength I never knew wield, I kneeled at once in real dismay, prayed for help and hoped for save. I braved the bitter cold and trudged, through all the snow and mounds of mud, befuddled, fumbling through the dark, “If there’s a light, oh won’t you spark?”
I walked a while and finally found, my feet were touching highway ground, the sound of heartbeat filled my ears, with pounding, pounding, POUNDING fear! While tears they trickled down my cheeks, I thought I’d never get to speak, or see my family once again, I’d bleed to death without a friend.
I bent and huddled to keep warm, and then at once, I saw a swarm, of big bright lights approaching me, my heart had never felt such glee. “Please help, come quick and rescue me. I’m freezing, bleeding violently. I need some aid and proper care, and hey, a change of underwear.”
The wary truck could see me waving, but he didn’t stop for saving, not brave enough, I guess, to stop, and with that all my hope was dropped. Truck number two came some time later, I jumped and waved now even greater, but once again, he passed on by, my eyes welled up and I asked, “Why?”
By the time the third truck came, I was defeated and so drained, but still I mustered up the strength to wave my limbs at longest length. To my delight, he slammed the brakes; he stopped the truck, began to make, his way to me and take a glance, and quickly called an ambulance.
At first glance of that stunning sight, I finally let go of the fright, for I had lived and was alright, and made it through my darkest night. They said “Sit tight,” and loaded me, onto an outstretched flesh gurney, and after that I said “Thank you,” my life was saved, my land brand new.
I knew it then, I know it now, it was my friend who saved somehow, allowed me to survive the plow and disallowed my final bow. But now, Justin, I bow to you, the Guardian Angel I look up to, Thank You for being there for me, I hope your view is Heavenly.
Written by Tyler Wagner
