The Mountain Mist

Thick clouds cling to the mountain-top like heavy smoke from my grandfather's tobacco pipe. The remnants of ice and snow make the early morning drive even more intense. Animal prints in the snow remind me that the deer are prone to leaping into oncoming traffic. These near misses of the past play through my mind as if on a movie screen. My grip tightens on the steering wheel in time with the unconscious clenching of my jaw. Eyes strain to view the borders of the road through the mist as the headlights reach through the veil as far as possible.

Tumbling over the edge in my mind, I die a thousand deaths. The morning darkness enfolds like a tomb as I pray for daybreak. The moon is glowing somewhere else this morning. Even her light would be a blessing right now.

"I should have taken the alternate route", my scolding thoughts remind me that I got up too late again. The only other route down the mountain requires a ten minute headstart to make it to work on time. It is an easier drive with less hair-pin turns and minimal cloud cover. It's too late to turn back in this fog, so I forge ahead hoping to reach the apex of the knob in a few minutes. Soon I can begin my descent which will take me under the cloud cover.

My car forges down the mountain now and I finally pass underneath the clouds. My grip lessens on the wheel and I breathe a sigh of relief as I begin to see the morning sun breaking over the adjoining mountain. Only now do I realize how much tension has built up in my body. The glowing orange sunrise lifts my spirit as I am free from the drive through the mountain mist.