Friday Fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
Click here to hear the author read his words:
The Low Road
The highway is straight and empty, and very boring.
The sides drop down to a stony arid wasteland, not a good place to go.
I haven’t seen another vehicle in an hour, or about 70 miles.
I’m struggling to stay awake, but I have to keep going.
What I’m running from is even less palatable.
I won’t bore you with the details, but I’d rather walk across this desert than face it.
So I splash water on my face and glance in the rear-view mirror.
I see them, coming up fast.
Looks like I’ll be taking the Low Road home.
Note: Quick explanation for those of you not fortunate enough to be Scottish. The Low Road is the route taken back to Scotland by the spirit of one who dies abroad.
You might enjoy this version of the song.
Very edgy- I feel irksome treble of defeat.
In one way or another, a lot of these desert stories involve death.
Puts a new spin on an old song, for me. Thanks. But what did he do and is there no other alternative?
So, of course, now my imagination’s in overdrive, wondering what he’s done.
But whatever it is, and whoever they are, does he really deserve to go home by the low road?
Nice one.