On The Way ~ descriptive writing

Looking down at the desperate blinking of my fuel indicator, I knew it was time to quench its thirst. I drove through the violent snow in search of shelter. Streaks of warm-hued lights ran past as I made my way into a gas station on the way to prepare for the journey ahead. The snow had now seemed encapsulated within the hazy vicinity of the station, frozen in time. My car trudged atop the thickened layer of snow beneath, emanating its crunched sound throughout my car.

The aberrant breeze scantily blew past me as I stepped out of the car and onto the blanketed pavement. I reached for the pump and inserted it into my car. I stood there mindlessly endowed in an off-white haze, bordered by the unfamiliar darkness of the forest. I walked towards the minuscule convenience store, one that was devoid of displays, only to be greeted by the ominous humming of fluorescent lights up above. I grabbed a coffee, paid the uninterested cashier and pushed past the teetering door.

I set my drink down on the curb beneath an awning and sat down.

The unfiltered wind howled gently as it scampered and manoeuvred throughout the station. As I stood amongst the desolate structures of the station, I felt out of place, yet comforted by its solidarity. I walked towards the open air and solemnly stared at the sky of faded stars and worlds up above. I raised my arms up to relieve strain from my back and allowed myself to move around, skipping and catching intricately spun snowflakes. I felt alive. So many things have changed in the past few days, but right then, I’d never felt more like myself.

The forest edge drew me in as I glared one last time into its gruesome yet alluring darkness. I walked back towards my car wading across the canvas of snow beneath, retracing past remnants of travellers such as myself and removed the pump. The intoxicating brisk air left my lungs as I retreated back into the cosy cavern of my car. After I took long and yearning looks at the unstirring and unbothered demeanour of this sequestered plane, I drove back, back to a life of condemning chaos.