THE END OF THE ROAD

Marilen dragged her feet. She followed the illuminated black and white path without thinking. When did she start? How did she get into this road? How much longer? Every step covered the glass floor. A strong light source came from underneath the ground. Then she stopped and looked back. She couldn’t see the beginning. She looked forward, same result. Was she in the middle of nowhere?

The ceiling had a faint white light here and there. There was something about the ceiling. Did she enter through the ceiling? How? Dizziness captured her and saw the walls dancing; she lowered her chin and the floor lights flashed at a frantic pace.

Where Am I?

Her last memory was inside the grocery store, at noon, she handed off money to the cashier, and then… and then…

Where Am I?

Oh yes, the shopping cart, the squeaking wheels rolling on the pavement. The sun burning her left cheek—it was so damn hot. Her car shone a few yards away…

Where Am I?

The squeaking was loud, very loud, deafening loud. But it wasn’t the shopping cart. Now, it was a car.

No!

A car ran at a fast speed in the middle of the parking lot. She jumped; the groceries flew all over in slow motion. And she avoided the vehicle and…

What Am I doing here? Where Am I?

And… and… what else?

“Hello,” said a voice. It came from the ceiling. “Are you OK?” OK echoing inside her head.

The black and white pathway colored, blur silhouettes moving. The sun hit her eyes—it burned. She opened her eyes and found a paramedic kneeling in front of her, “Are you OK?”

She nodded once, closed her eyes, and saw the bright white light at the end of the road. It was the purest form of white. She liked it—she walked towards it. Magnetic, she thought. It’s a life magnet.

A warm feeling invaded her. She walked towards the potent light until she reached the end of the road.