Last night I was in my old city. I grew up there and used to know the area pretty well. It came time to leave and i headed for the freeway out. Well, I found out that I have forgotten some of the layout and instead of taking the North exit home I accidentally took the South exit towards the mountains.
My heart sank. This highway weaves through the mountains. I have taken this highway before and I knew what it was like. It’s dangerous. It’s a two lane road big sweeping turns and after the last time I drove on it about 4 or 5 years ago I swore I would never drive on it again. This is the only road in my life that I ever gave up driving because of the danger. So here I was, on it at night, right after it rained and for the first time in my current car.
There’s a concrete wall divider between oncoming traffic and I knew there were only so many exits where I could get off it to head back the other way home. And I had forgotten where they were and it is one of those freeways that once you get on, you are stuck on it. I didn’t let myself get afraid at first. I had to concentrate in the dark and pay attention because there were other cars. I couldn’t find the exit and I started to get worried.
I said screw it to the other traffic behind e and I just drove slowly, right at the speed limit. I pulled off at one exit but it didn’t allow me to cross over to the road home so that meant getting back on this highway and driving more. Now the fear crept in. This road was dangerous, no room for error. I finally saw a sign for an exit but I was not out of the woods yet. It was tricky taking that exit but I was successful and managed to get back on the direction home. But I still had to drive all that way back on it. But I did it but it just re-enforces, I will never ever drive this highway again. I haven’t been that scared in a long time, since the 75 year old office worker wore a short dress to work three weeks ago.
