Moths fluttered in front of my headlights, which shone over the tall grass of the ditch. I was still gripping the steering wheel tightly, and my heart was pounding. I had swerved suddenly to avoid a raccoon that darted out of the fog, and I skidded onto a low embankment at the edge of the road. I was okay. Shocked, but okay. I tried to reverse, but my wheels spun without catching. They were probably stuck in the mud. Pff... I should have bought that SUV instead of the sedan. I turned off the engine, switched on the hazard lights, and called roadside assistance. They told me the wait would be about an hour. Perfect. Just perfect. I still had a two-hour drive home, and now I was stranded in a remote spot between the funeral home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where I had just left, and my house in Minneapolis. I was hungry, I needed to use the bathroom, and on top of that, I was wearing a full-body spandex suit. A spectacular finale to the worst week I had ever had.

I called my best friend, Bri. She answered on the first ring. “Well? How did your crappy week go?” “Actually, I can tell you how it ended,” I said, reclining my seat. “I just drove my car into a ditch.” “Ouch. Are you okay?” “Yeah.” “Did you call roadside assistance?” “I did. One hour wait. And I’m wearing spandex.” She blew air through her teeth. “You’re wearing the Devil’s underwear? You didn’t change before you left? You must have left there like you were being chased. Where are you?” she asked. I looked out the windshield. “I have no idea. Literally in the middle of nowhere. There aren’t even any streetlights.” “Is the car in bad shape?” “I don’t know,” I said. “I haven’t gotten out to look. I don’t think so, though.” I shifted in my seat, feeling extremely uncomfortable.