ebook by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-12-31T10:05:06.153303+00:00

The Detour

by

Jesa David

Joanna and her daughter, Emily, had been driving for two straight days, traversing the lonely highway from California through Nevada, through the terra cotta shapes composing Utah, and had just entered Colorado as the darkness of evening overtook them. Joanna was exhausted but preferred caffeine to sleep. Although her mind and body were unnaturally awake, her level of comfort was now at a constant state of peace due to the vestige of their old lives receding behind them. California, and the loss and sadness they had experienced there, would soon be a distant memory. A new job awaited her in Nebraska and a tabula rasa for both of them. There would be no more questions at school as to why Emily was missing school, or why her father was in the hospital, or why her mother was so withdrawn and sad. Emily was as ready to leave her old life behind as much as her mother was; and with her one suitcase of clothing and one box of books in the back of the Aerostar, she settled comfortably in the front seat with a heavy paperback and lost herself in the folly of Scarlett O’Hara, wishing only that they were heading south instead of east.

Joanna noticed little and rarely turned the radio on or spoke to her daughter. It was peaceful, just driving. They had had little contact with anyone and both seemed to prefer it that way. It had been dark for hours when Joanna started to feel beyond restless, shaking her left leg, and alternately tapping her left hand against the steering wheel. The air outside the van was cool and fresh. Emily cranked open her window and looked out at the distant hills. She saw a sign ahead. As they neared closer, they saw its words: “Welcome to the State of Colorado.” They were here: their new home. It was half a day’s drive to get to Denver from that point. Joanna’s new job began in less than a week and they would have time to rearrange themselves to the form their new life would take. Emily’s hands rested on the sleeves of her paperback. It was too dark to read, but she liked to have it nearby. She yawned and turned her eyes ahead of her.

Slowly, imperceptibly, the van crossed the center line and entered the left lane. Emily watched for a moment, mesmerized, before she realized what was happening and turned desperately to her mother. “Mom! Mom! Wake up! We’re moving over the road!” she shouted. Joanna’s head bolted upright and her hands clenched as she grasped the steering wheel, turning it too hard to the right. The overcompensation caused the van’s wheels to screech as they tore to the far right side of the highway, briefly rolling over the gravel of the roadside, before righting themselves, straight and flying forward. Joanna’s hands remained tight and white on the wheel while Emily slowly let her book drop into her lap. “Mom,” she whispered. “I know.

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