(b4r:"solid","none","none")+(b4r-size:2,1,1)+(b4r-colour:#916F45)[ [(text-style:"bold")
[DRIVE
by Trisha Nguyen]]
]
[[>>]]
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(set: $typewriterText to "It’s a quarter past midnight,
when He asked me to go for a drive
and I’ve never said yes faster in my life.
We drove around without a destination in mind
since neither of us could bring ourselves to say goodnight.
")
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{
(live: 5s)[
(stop:)
[[He turns back and take me home.]] /
[[He keeps going.]]
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"BEEPBEEP BEEPBEEP
A scream woke me up.
My eyes open in a panic. The scent of fire assaulted my nostrils, and my lungs were filled with black smoke. Looking around, I saw nothing in the dark but a thick fog. I started coughing as I jumped out of bed and started calling for Sammy. I could hear Sammy’s cries getting louder as I made my way downstairs.
When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I saw that the oven had caught on fire. Sammy was standing on the other side of the kitchen with a rag in his hand.
BEEPBEEP BEEPBEEP
The alarm would not stop.
“Oh my God! Sammy! Come here! Now!”
“Mommy!” He wailed, running towards me.
I pick scoop him up and carry him outside.
")
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{
(live: 19s)[
(stop:)
(text-colour:#d2b48c)+(bg:(hsl:34,0.4375,0.6863,0.3))[''[The End]'']
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(set: $typewriterText to
"I wake up in a jolt. Springing up in bed, I'm covered in sweat.
I look around. I'm in my room, and the sun is beaming through my blinds. It’s getting warmer.
Damn it.
Annoyed at the invasion of light that broke through, I march to my window and yanked the blackout curtains shut.
I then stumbled across the room and turned to my digital thermostat. My eyes were still adjusting to the newfound darkness
when I squinted to read the temperature: 73 F, I knew that wasn’t true. My room felt like an oven and me – a rotisserie chicken. Using my index finger, I vehemently crank down the degree to 65 F as I openly curse the sun for its warmth. Satisfied with the rush of cool air, I turn and plop back on my bed.
I shut my eyes quickly in the fear of losing my fog of sleep. But, it's too late.
I'm stuck in this world where he doesn't exist.
")
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(text-colour:#d2b48c)+(bg:(hsl:34,0.4375,0.6863,0.3))[''[The End]'']
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"His eyes widened when he glanced at the time.
“It’s 2 AM already?” He asked.
He suddenly became more alert.
Focused on driving,
He blurted out: “I can’t believe it’s already 2 AM.”
My heart sank
because my gut told me
that our little road trip was going to end.
“I know!” I said, “I feel like time goes by when we hangout.”
The roads we pasted were the very same ones
where we were rolling our heads together
and laughing all our funny stories earlier.
Now, there is just this silence and awkwardness.
")
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{
(live: 13s)[
(stop:)
[[He kept driving.]] /
[[He thinks about taking a detour.]]
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(set: $typewriterText to
"We just wandered aimlessly
on the empty streets of our small town,
Talking about anything
and everything that came to mind.
I’ve never felt time fly by so fast
and as dumb as it sounds,
I wished that the clock
on his dashboard would slow down,
so that this moment can last
more than just a while.
")
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{
(live: 6s)[
(stop:)
[[He looks at the clock.]] / [[He slows down and stops at a red light.]]
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<!-- Set the text to show -->
(set: $typewriterText to
"His eyes widened when he glanced at the time.
“It’s 3 AM already?” He asked.
He suddenly became more alert.
Focused on driving,
He blurted out: “I can’t believe it’s already 3 AM.”
My heart sank
because my gut told me
that our little road trip was going to end.
“I know!” I said, “I feel like time goes by when we hangout.”
The roads we pasted were the very same ones
where we were rolling our heads together
and laughing all our funny stories earlier.
Now, there is just this silence and awkwardness.
")
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{
(live: 15s)[
(stop:)
[[He keeps driving.]] /
[[He thinks about taking a detour.]]
]
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<!-- Set the text to show -->
(set: $typewriterText to
"Stopping at a red light,
looking in the rearview,
He asked me if he seem sunburnt,
shifting towards me,
I stopped breathing.
With my eyebrows furrowed,
I stare at him puzzled.
I answered, “Maybe, just a little pink.”
")
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{
(live: 8s)[
(stop:)
[[The lights turn green and he keeps going.]] /
[[The light turns green but he barely moves.]]
]
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<!-- Set the text to show -->
(set: $typewriterText to
"When the light flashes green,
He put his hands back on the steering wheel,
He chuckled and told I was cute.
")
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{
(live: 8s)[
(stop:)
[[His phone goes off.]] /
[[He starts going fast.]]
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(set: $typewriterText to
"Okay. What about your least favorite color?” He asks and stares at my hair. Slowing down to a snail’s pace, he reaches over to me.
“Wait there’s something on you– “
BEEPBEEP BEEPBEEP
Mark and I both turn to the direction of the sound. Our eyes widened in horror. A truck was coming at us at a rapid speed. The warning signs were too late.
The last thing I could remember was how damn hot it suddenly got.
BEEPBEEP BEEPBEEP
")
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{
(live: 8s)[
(stop:)
[[BEEPBEEP BEEPBEEP.]]
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(set: $typewriterText to
"I picked at my fingers as I tried to figure out what to say next.
“I–“
“Why do–“
We both look at each other and burst out laughing.
He was the first to speak. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” his chuckles died down and he clears his throat. “What were you going to say?”
“I was just going to say that I was really glad we could meet.” I beam at him.
“What were you going to say?” I ask.
He smiles back at me. “Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to take the typical route home or a maybe long detour home?”
I pretend to consider my options.
“Hmmm….how about the…long way back?”
Grinning, he says, “Your wish my command madam!”
Mark then signals and makes a turn off route. ")
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(live: 17s)[
(stop:)
[[He starts going fast.]]
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"Not much was said on the way home.
It was like the knowledge of this ending
somehow made us strangers again.
I knew he was leaving tomorrow,
but there was nothing I could do
to get him to stay.
")
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{
(live: 4s)[
(stop:)
[[I try to say something.]] /
[[I fall asleep.]]
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"Not much was said on the way home.
It was like the knowledge of this ending
somehow made us strangers again.
I knew he was leaving tomorrow,
but there was nothing I could do
to get him to stay.
")
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(live: 4s)[
(stop:)
[[I try to say something.]] /
[[I fall asleep.]]
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"It kept ringing as I watched Mark
struggled to decide to pick it up of not.
'You should get it.' I urged, 'It might be important.'
He let an exhasburated sigh.
'You're right. I'm so sorry.'
I gave him two thumbs up as he answered.
'Hello?' 'Hello?'
I stare back at He in confusion
because the ringing didn't stop.
I can't hear his voice anymore.
")
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(live: 7s)[
(stop:)
[[BEEPBEEP BEEPBEEP.]] /
[[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP]]
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(set: $typewriterText to
"We start zooming past the rural side of town. It’s so dark and barren outside. It seems like we are the only ones awake. We approach an intersection where the lights are flashing orange.
“Okay. Blue is my favorite color and I know orange is yours. So, what about your least favorite color?” He asks and stares at my hair. Slowing down to a snail’s pace, he reaches over to me.
“Wait there’s something on you– “
BEEPBEEP BEEPBEEP
Mark and I both turn to the direction of the sound. Our eyes widened in horror. A truck was coming at us at a rapid speed. The warning signs were too late.
The last thing I could remember was how damn hot it suddenly got.
BEEPBEEP BEEPBEEP
")
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(stop:)
[[BEEPBEEP BEEPBEEP.]]
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"The car hummed and the radio was playing softly in the background. The air condition blasted through the vents and the longer we zipped passed the city. I ask him about his plans, if he’ll ever come back, what his favorite memory was, etc. My mind was reeling. Thinking of anything and everything to say that might get him to consider staying. At some point, I asked him, point blank, if he could stay for me.
")
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(live: 9s)[
(stop:)
[[He gave me an apologetic smile and shook his head.]]
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"The car hummed and the radio was playing softly in the background. The air condition blasted through the vents and the longer we zipped passed the city, the heavier my eyes were getting. The last thing I remember was how warm it felt from holding his hand.
")
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(live: 26s)[
(stop:)
[[He nudges me to wake up.]]
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"My eyes open in confusion.
“Huh?”
I look around. I'm in my room, and my dog, Charlie, been trying to shake me awake with his snout. I pet Charlie in comfort. I blink a few times as reality sets in. The sun is beaming through my blinds like it’s mocking me for my adventures in the dark. It’s getting warmer.
Damn it.
Annoyed at the invasion of light that broke through, I march to my window and yanked the blackout curtains shut.
I then stumbled across the room and turned to my digital thermostat. My eyes were still adjusting to the newfound darkness
when I squinted to read the temperature: 73 F, I knew that wasn’t true. My room felt like an oven and me – a rotisserie chicken. Using my index finger, I vehemently crank down the degree to 65 F as I openly curse the sun for its warmth. Satisfied with the rush of cool air, I turn and plop back on my bed.
I shut my eyes quickly in the fear of losing my fog of sleep. But, it's too late.
I'm stuck in this world,
where he doesn’t exist.
I curl into a ball and felt the tears wet my sheets.
I begged, “I just want to move on.”
But no one was there to listen.
")
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(text-colour:#d2b48c)+(bg:(hsl:34,0.4375,0.6863,0.3))[''[The End]'']
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"Right when he opens his mouth to say something . . .
")
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(live: 3s)[
(stop:)
[[His phone goes off.]]
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