I was headed from New York
Bound for Chicago
I’d met many a soul along the way
Things were fine
The weather was nice
Till I took a different way
A route not known by GPS
A road that was seemingly endless
On this road, I saw many a soul
Giving some a ride to various spots
Every passenger knew where they wanted to get out
The first hitch hiker I picked up
A woman who looked so lonely
She came into my car
Then she asked
What is the purpose of life, Philip?
I sat for a moment
A tad perplexed
Not just by the question
But by the fact
This woman knew my name
I don’t however, remember giving her such information
I told her, I wasn’t sure
I’d have to think about it, the further I traveled up the road
The woman smiled
It was then she seemed to begin to bleed
Her nose an ocean of red
Now leaking
I asked her if she was okay
The red spilling on her white dress
She smiled and told me
I’m fine. I’ve accepted my end.
You may wish to find the answer to the question I asked before Roads End.
I paused perplexed as she asked me to stop
It was only now I noticed the road was fog-ridden
I asked this woman
What is your name?
She simply smiled before fading away
It was then I swore I saw the faint outline
Of a mansion
I drove on
It began to rain
I pondered the woman’s question before a man came
The man wore black
He had the most mischievous grin
He soon asked:
Going my way?
I slowed my car
Or rather it stopped on its own
The man entered
It started up again
Figured out the meaning of life?
He asked…
I quickly let out a gasp!
Nervously, I listened to the rain pour
Uncomfortably I pondered the question before me
Don’t be afraid…friend.
All eventually ends.
Your next passenger will clear things.
The rain grew heavier
This man in black gave out a cackle
Lighting up a smoke
He laughed at my debacle
Seconds passed,
I turned the radio on
A strange man spoke of murder & mayhem
It was news for a town I’d never heard
Black Winter?
Taking a smooth drag the man in black said
This is my stop friend.
The next thing I knew the man faded in a puff of smoke
Then in the distance, I saw someone else
This man looked bloodied & near death
He soon appeared in the back of my vehicle.
All he said was a one simple thing
I wish I had known the meaning of my life.
The man then convulsed & died in the back.
Freaked out, I stopped my car.
I looked closer at the man
Only to realize
He wore my face
I checked his pockets
His identification read the same!
I turned toward the road
Left in shock
A flood of memories overtook me!
I couldn’t remember how
But, I knew I was dead
My car started up on its own
Then I continued on towards the roads end.
In the rain & fog
I saw a sign
Welcome To Black Winter it read…
I knew then
I’d never appreciated life
I’d died young
I’d arrived
At…
-Roads End-
