The road is quiet tonight.

Behind me, the clouds are a thick, gray umbrella encompassing the sky, save for the moon peeking through,

glaring back at me, watching me leave. I am alone on the highway, which is a little bit strange.

I’ve never been on this road before, but it will be morning soon. I wonder what everyone is waiting for.

Some cars have passed me, and I have passed others, but right now, the road stretches on and on behind me,

before me, around me, and I am alone in this space.

The radio is humming a song

▶ I've heard a hundred times

▶ I've never heard before

▶ I've heard once or twice

The radio is humming a song I've heard a hundred times, softly, nearly impossible to hear over the

rumbling of the road underneath me. I’ve passed exit 12, I think. I’m getting low on gas, so I need to get

off soon, but I can stay here for a while longer.

When the moon is barely visible through the clouds, the radio starts to crackle, fades in and out of

static. A voice cuts through. A man’s, unintelligible at first, but then:

▶ "...accident..."

▶ "...kidnapping..."

▶ "...assault..."

▶ "...murder..."

The radio is humming a song I’ve never heard before, hushed, barely audible over the air rushing past my

windows. I’ve passed exit 12, I think. I’m getting low on gas, so I need to get off soon, but I can stay

here for a while longer.

When the moon is barely visible through the clouds, the radio starts to crackle, fades in and out of

static. A voice cuts through. A man’s, unintelligible at first, but then:

▶ "...accident..."

▶ "...kidnapping..."

▶ "...assault..."

▶ "...murder..."

The radio is humming a song I’ve heard once or twice, quietly, almost whispering over the grumbling of the

car’s engine. I’ve passed exit 12, I think. I’m getting low on gas, so I need to get off soon, but I can

stay here for a while longer.

When the moon is barely visible through the clouds, the radio starts to crackle, fades in and out of

static. A voice cuts through. A man’s, unintelligible at first, but then:

▶ "...accident..."

▶ "...kidnapping..."

▶ "...assault..."

▶ "...murder..."

“...accident...unsure how...victim...pronounced dead.” And then there is just more static.

I turn the knob to switch the station, and a song that I vaguely recognize plays. I don’t like this song,

but I’m not sure why, so I listen for a while anyway. I’m still alone, and the song is familiar.

It keeps me company.

The moon has completely hidden behind the clouds, and I notice my gas light has lit up orange. I think I’m

a bit lost, anyway, so I might as well get off now. I’ve just passed exit 14. I switch on my turn signal

and let it click for a moment despite the lack of cars to see it. I turn into the right hand lane.

I take the next exit.

“...kidnapping...unsure where...victim...found dead.” And then there is just more static.

I turn the knob to switch the station, and a song that I vaguely recognize plays. I don’t like this song,

but I’m not sure why, so I listen for a while anyway. I’m still alone, and the song is familiar.

It keeps me company.

The moon has completely hidden behind the clouds, and I notice my gas light has lit up orange. I think I’m

a bit lost, anyway, so I might as well get off now. I’ve just passed exit 14. I switch on my turn signal

and let it click for a moment despite the lack of cars to see it. I turn into the right hand lane.

I take the next exit.

“...assault...unsure when...victim...evidently dead.” And then there is just more static.

I turn the knob to switch the station, and a song that I vaguely recognize plays. I don’t like this song,

but I’m not sure why, so I listen for a while anyway. I’m still alone, and the song is familiar.

It keeps me company.

The moon has completely hidden behind the clouds, and I notice my gas light has lit up orange. I think I’m

a bit lost, anyway, so I might as well get off now. I’ve just passed exit 14. I switch on my turn signal

and let it click for a moment despite the lack of cars to see it. I turn into the right hand lane.

I take the next exit.

“...murder...unsure why...victim...confirmed dead.” And then there is just more static.

I turn the knob to switch the station, and a song that I vaguely recognize plays. I don’t like this song,

but I’m not sure why, so I listen for a while anyway. I’m still alone, and the song is familiar.

It keeps me company.

The moon has completely hidden behind the clouds, and I notice my gas light has lit up orange. I think I’m

a bit lost, anyway, so I might as well get off now. I’ve just passed exit 14. I switch on my turn signal

and let it click for a moment despite the lack of cars to see it. I turn into the right hand lane.

I take the next exit.