Driving in the Dark

Photo by chmyphotography on Unsplash

It is winter, just after 4am.
I am driving on an unfamiliar, winding road.
There are no streetlights guiding my way.
My high beam is barely piercing the dark.
The forest walls along the road start closing in.

Cars are coming fast impatiently overtaking me.
It seems everyone is confident, knows where they are going and how to get there — everyone, except me.

I tightly grip the one thing I can hold on to: the steering wheel.

I feel more and more insecure, and my breath is shallow and fast.
Breathing deep and slow would keep me balanced — I just can’t do it.

I want this drive to be over!
I want to stop, get out of the car, have someone take me in their arms and drive for me!

And then I am ‘stuck’ behind a large truck.
A welcome steady presence at a soothing pace.

I relax. Someone I can follow is here.
Someone who doesn’t ask for pay-back. Someone who, by being themselves, guides me through the darkness of this drive.

6am. The eastern sky changes from black to grey to orange.
I can see my way.
The truck has turned off 20 minutes ago.

My shoulders drop, the grip on the steering wheel relaxes. I breathe deeply and smile.

After darkness there is light again!

• I can do this.

• I can drive through the dark.

• I can trust that someone will be there when I need them most.

And so can you!