This is a contiuation of Yesterday’s email. If you haven’t read that one, this won’t make much sense, check it out here.”
6:10 PM. June 12 2024.
The dashboard of my car looks like a Christmas tree showing lights I didn't even know existed.
I'm stuck 2 miles away from my house.
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
The rain keeps pouring, I can see the water rise around me.
I push the start button to force the car to turn on but it’s no longer respoding.
Not seeing a way to revive the car, I call a towing company from my dying phone (I got about 20% battery left).
A robot voice responds “because of heavy flooding, we are currently experiencing a 4 to 5 hour wait. We don't guarantee we can get you. Press 1 to speak with an agent.”
I hang up and call other towing companies. None of them have guarantees they can make it.
BEEE- BEEEEE- BEEEEEEEP BEEEEE- BEEEEEP BEEEEEE
As I consider my options, the car's electricity flickers, and the loud beep coming from the “CHECK ENGINE” light scrambles.
Stress builds up as I realize the car is more than likely DEAD.
And at that moment I see the 2 options:
Drown or Swim.
My brain turns off.
I roll up the sleeves of my pants and take off my shoes and socks. Those will only slow me down.
I open the door and take a step into the flooded street, feeling the cold water and rough concrete.
Using the remaining bit of power, I put my car in neutral and roll down the driver's window.
It's time to go home.
I place one hand on the steering wheel and another on the door frame by the window.
Step by step, the car moves.
Slowly and surely, I push further and further. Navigating roads full of dead cars.
??:?? PM
I’m at a halfway point when a guy in a tow truck whistles at me
”Hey man, how far do you have to go?”
I look and see the condominium in the distance
”About half-a-mile left,” I say while pushing the car. “It’s right there, you can see it from here”
He looks at the place and looks back at me ”I can take you there for $100” He says with a sly smile
I ponder about it. It certainly makes it easier…
”Thanks man but I don’t have any money” I reply
”Alright, suit yourself” he says, speeding off.
??:?? PM
I’m past the halfway point, my feet are aching and I think I stepped on something.
My arms are giving out and moving my wrists feels like breaking concrete.
Suddenly, I hear a voice…
(For once, it’s not in my head.)
“Hey man, do you need help?”
A man approaches, he’s carrying an umbrella and not much else.
At this point, there’s not much of an option.
”Yeah, please.” I reply with what little breath I have left.
He gets behind the car and starts pushing.
“What’s your name?” I ask the kind stranger.
“Hector” The man replies.
Soon enough, the car moves faster.
??:?? PM
We’re finally here.
We push the car over the entrance gate and park it in the garage.
Me and Hector do a -rather painful- high five and we go our separate ways. Despite my best efforts, he wanted nothing in return.
“Help whoever you can, when you can” was his last request before leaving.
8:53 PM.
I limp my way home. My clothes are so wet they’ve fused with me.
It doesn’t matter.
The mission is complete:
I’m Home.
I guess the lessons I want to share are:
1. At some point, you need to swim. And once you do, you’ll survive and figure things out as you go.
2. Don’t drive sedans in flood warnings.
Regardless, thank you for joining me in this very long story and adventure.
While I’d like to say this track was playing in my head as I did the journey, nothing but “one step at a time” was in my mind.
Instead, here’s a fantastic song by Lorn.
I used it while writing this email and it helped with the recall. Something that would have fit if it was playing in the background at that moment.
There’s something magical about it, you're likely to get goosebumps listening to it.
Njoy.
Genre: Electronic
Always Swimming Forward
Hz
P.S. This story was definitely on the longer side and I would love to hear what you think! Reply back or just answer this simple poll
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