Driving Rain

Rain pounded the windshield, coming down so hard and fast that it created a nearly solid sheet. He leaned forward in the driver's seat, the fingers of his right hand digging through his beard to scratch his neck under the base of his jaw before returning to the wheel. He squinted his eyes as he sped up ever so slightly, trying to get close enough to discern the taillights of the vehicle he knew was somewhere just ahead of him. With the pounding rain obscuring everything else, those taillights were his only indicator of where the road was. He could only hope that the drive of that vehicle--whatever kind of vehicle it was, he certainly couldn't tell--could see the road better than he could. Finally the lights appeared, flaring brilliantly through the seemingly impenetrable sheet of rain. Too brilliant, in fact, and they were rapidly growing larger. He immediately applied his brakes as well, letting up slightly and then feathering them as he felt the car threatening to hydroplane. After a seeming eternity, he got the car to a complete stop. He could definitely tell what kind of vehicle he was following now--a Honda Accord--as he managed to stop just inches from its bumper. He could take it no longer. As traffic started moving forward again, he inched the car to the right until it was on the shoulder of the expressway. He shifted the lever into park, switched on his four-way flashers so he could hopefully be seen through the deluge, and killed the engine. His hands ached from how tightly he had been gripping the wheel. He flexed them, trying to stretch them out, as he leaned back against the headrest and closed his eyes. He had no idea how long it would be until the rain slowed enough that visibility would no longer be such a struggle, but he would wait. He had come far too close to a collision just a moment ago--his heart was still hammering in his chest--and he had no desire to push his luck. Then there came a knock on the passenger side window. AUTHOR'S COMMENTARY: Just something real basic to get the juices flowing again. I had the image of someone trying to drive through a downpour, and I ran with it. This is as far as it goes for right now, but I'm sure I'll find a use for this at some point.