© 2024 Puja Goyal
(modified from a previously written story by me)
The road stretched endlessly before Sandra and Alex, but the signposts marking their way had vanished into thin air. Frustration hung heavy in the air as they drove along the deserted highway, searching for the elusive cliff they had set out to find.
“It’s that way,” Alex suggested, his eyes fixed on a map spread out on his lap. He was a 25-year-old software developer, tall and bespectacled, his enthusiasm for the trip undiminished despite their lack of progress.
“We’ve been going in circles for six hours,” Sandra complained, her love for driving overshadowed by her growing irritation. Sandra had taken time off work to spend quality time with her boyfriend Alex, but their journey was rapidly turning into a test of patience.
“Why did we leave without a clear plan?” Sandra sighed, frustration evident in her voice.
“Look, why don’t we pull over, have something hot to drink, and take a breather?” Alex suggested, trying to diffuse the tension.
“I should have stayed at work longer,” Sandra muttered as she pulled the car over at a fork in the road, seeking solace under the shade of a nearby tree.
Just a month ago, Alex had proposed to Sandra at a cozy café, and they had both agreed to focus on their careers before tying the knot. Their trip to the cliff was meant to be a chance to reconnect, but instead, it seemed to be driving them further apart.
As Alex poured hot chocolate from a flask into their cups, Sandra remarked, “It’s cold out here.”
“Then it’s cold chocolate,” Alex quipped, trying to lighten the mood with a smile.
“We’re in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees and no WiFi,” Sandra grumbled, feeling increasingly isolated.
“We could snuggle up in the car, away from the world,” Alex suggested playfully.
“Right,” Sandra replied, tossing her empty cup aside. “Let’s just go home—oh, what now?” She exclaimed as the car refused to budge. Under the vehicle lay a broken metal signpost, revealing their exact location.
“Here’s the signpost,” Alex remarked, picking up the broken piece. “We’re right where we need to be. The cliff is through the forest. Shall we walk?”
Sandra surveyed their surroundings warily. “No, let’s just spend the night here in the car. It’ll be fine.”
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