Aurora~

My hands were shaking severely as they held the steering wheel, I was driving continuously since yesterday afternoon just filling the fuel tank and heading ahead on an unknown journey. I hadn't taken a shower, I hadn't eaten properly, I hadn't slept well, I was incessantly on the road without a destination. 

I couldn't turn back, I wasn't ready to turn back....yet. For the first time in my life I went against everyone and ran away and was still running away from everything.

I looked around the road, woods at both the sides that seemed dense and endless, the clouds hovering above were dark and grey matching with my gloomy mood and the surrounding was peaceful contradictory to my mind which was in a turmoil. 

The car was going ahead peacefully but suddenly started making screeching noises and came to jarring halt. I frowned and tried to start the car again but it it only made grinding noises and didn't start. 

"What a shitty day!" I slammed my hand on the steering wheel. 

I turned around to check for anything suspicious, I might not have traveled this far from my home but I had basic common sense to not step out of the car without checking around. 

I was agitated finding myself alone on a deserted road in middle of nowhere. 

I was panicked, it was risky to get out of the car but it was also risky to stay inside as well. I slightly opened the door and listened carefully but could only hear the rustling of the leaves and light noises of insects and birds. I closed the door again and inspected the area around the car and only when I was sure of the surrounding stepped out. 

I didn't walk much far from the car and only checked it walking around it once trying to find the issue. But with the little knowledge I possessed about cars I couldn't solve this on my own. 

"What is the problem?" I gritted my teeth in frustration and placed my hand on the car slightly only to jerk it back after getting a burn, the bonet of the car was hot. 

I went and opened the bonet only slightly and smoke crept out of the thin gap, I didn't dare to touch the bonet again and left it like that to cool down. I heard light rustling from the woods and gulped nervously. 

I rushed to the door and sat back in the car locking the door properly and searched on the phone with trembling fingers for nearby garage but there was no signal at all.

I threw the phone on the passenger seat in rage and massaged my head tapping my feet anxiously. 

I must have waited for an hour or so just sitting inside the car with a growling stomach and no signal when I heard the sound of engine from behind. 

I turned back and saw a jeep approaching me. I wanted to ask for help but didn't know if it was a right decision, honestly I didn't know if anything that I have done so far was a right decision. Still I rolled the window down and waited for the car to come close. 

The jeep stopped beside my car and the window rolled down, a man came in view as he leaned closer and asked from the other side, "Are you having any trouble?" 

"The car broke down," I replied feigning calmness like I hadn't just spent an hour picking my nails nervously. 

He looked at the bonet that was slightly open and yelled from other side, "Can I take a look?" 

He removed his seatbelt like he was going to do it anyways, so before I could say anything he was out of the car walking towards mine. I observed him cautiously, he was tall and huge with messy brown hair, few strands pulled back and tied while few fell on his forehead, light subtle beard and sharp face. 

He was wearing a checks shirt over a plain white tshirt and ripped black jeans, the sleeves were rolled up showing his veiny strong arms. Even though he was wearing loose clothes one could tell he was rugged underneath. 

He opened the bonet and checked it for a few minutes and closed the bonet walking close to the window making me clutch the seat anxiously, "When was the last time you sent the car for maintenance?" 

"I.....don't know, " I replied hesitantly, while leaving the house I took a random car without thinking much. I didn't know when or if the car was sent to maintenance.

He gave me a look of disbelief and sighed looking at the car with a frown, "The engine is in bad shape you need to take the car to the garage." 

"Is there one nearby?" I asked and he nodded checking the time, 

"There is a town nearby, let's go there I'll tow the car...do you want to come sit in mine?" 

"No," I answered sternly, I was thankful for his help and all but I felt safer in my own car at this moment. He didn't pursuade anymore though I was ready to debate him if he did. 

"Can you open the trunk for me?" He pointed towards the trunk with his thumb and I opened the trunk for him, he ambled to the back and searched for something, I turned back and our eyes met, his blue eyes held mine for a minute before he backed off after finding what ever he wanted and closed the trunk. 

He didn't tell me what he was doing but he closed the bonet and crouching down did something to the car. I craned my neck trying to look but it was futile I could only see the top of his head and nothing else. 

After he was done he walked to his car sparing me another glance, I could swear I saw his lips curve up slightly but it soon disappered, he drove his jeep right in front of my car and got out again pulling a long sturdy rope from behind his jeep and attached the it to mine. 

"I'll start towing it now," he informed and I nodded my head clutching the wheel tightly. 

"Yes.....thankyou," he looked at me like he didn't expect me to thanks him at all. 

Well people had a habit of assuming I was rude from the way I talk so I don't blame him.

He started driving slowly ahead and after a while craned his head out of the window, "Turn the steering wheel to right." 

I followed his command and did what he told me, I looked to the side and saw a board, Welcome to Town Damerel and taking my phone out tried to get the location of the town but it was useless because of weak signal. 

After we entered the town I gazed around, I was expecting it to be some small shabby town but it was big and well developed, there were shops and cafes around, mid size buildings and houses, there were people on the road walking in groups. 

Many people gave the man greeting with big genuine grins as he took me through the town and also gawked at me with curious expression. 

He came to a halt in front of a shop and stopped the car, jumping out of the jeep and giving shoulder bump to the man in front of the shop, it was a garage. He started talking to the man pointing towards the car which I wasn't able to hear so I decided to step out. 

I stepped out of the car along with my bagpack and went to him, "Take this car inside now," he informed the other man who gave me a brief glance before nodding and went ahead to his work. 

"What happened?" I asked and the man turned to me, now that we were standing face to face he was towering over me by a few inches, I wasn't particularly small but I only came till his chest with his huge physique. 

"I have told them to repair the car but it would atleast take a day," he informed me and I stared at him, he seemed knowledgeable about cars, 

"Are you a mechanic?" I was now less nervous after getting away from the deserted road and in a town filled with people. 

"I am and this is my shop..." he didn't look like he was lying about the time required to repair the car, "I didn't had enough tools to repair the car so I towed it here." 

"Are there any hotels around?" I asked and he pursed his lips while shaking his head, 

"Not really.....want to stay at my place for a night?" 

His tone was free of malice and was sincere when he offered to help but I was hesitant to accept it. 

"No," I answered firmly and looked around the town, "I'll come back tomorrow for the car." 

"Where are you going?" He asked worried and I shrugged taking out my phone that was vibrating continuously now that I got a bit of signal. 

"Don't know," I started walking on the road and checked all the texts I was getting from home since a few hours and scoffed, I went away from home Yesterday but they were only realising it now.....how cute

 *****