It’s 2 am and my shift at the hospital is finally over. I’m exhausted.
While sitting at the red light, a car full of teenagers has pulled alongside me, windows down and music blaring.
All of a sudden, I snap. Maybe due to the fact that my patient just died without her family in the room. I lower my window, wave, and turn up my own radio. I sing the lyrics as loud as I can and wink at the shocked boy in the front seat. When the light turns green, I floor it.
If only they could know how very fast it goes. They enjoy their unexamined existence without meaning. I sigh. I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility that existence has its own reason for being. And for now, the music is loud and I’m enjoying my drive.
Today at dVerse, we are writing Prosery. This is where we are given a line from a poem and asked to write a story no longer than 144 words that includes the line. Merril chose:
I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility that existence has its own reason for being.
–Wisława Szymborska, ‘Possibilities‘
Tricia Sankey 
Excellent, Tricia. This is so timely–though I imagine medical professionals (and people older than teens) could feel this way often.
Thanks, Merril! The quote just sent me thinking about the meaning of life and then how the questions can drive us crazy during these crazy times. Much respect for our medical community. ❤️
You’re welcome. I agree, Tricia–about the crazy times and medical community.
A serious moment and the quote feels seamless. Well done, Tricia.
Thanks, so happy if flowed well with the story, it was a challenge this week! 🙏
You created a world here, Tricia. It has a feeling of completeness to it. Great writing.
Thanks, Lisa, I do enjoy flash fiction! ❤❤❤
You’re welcome and you are good at it!
🙏
I absolutely love this! 💝 From ” turn up my own radio,” to “I’m enjoying my drive,” you portray beautifully how important it is to value life and to be compassionate toward others. Yes, there are many who live life without bothering to learn the meaning behind it. I wish they would put in effort.
xoxo
Yes, it is about living and turning up our radios! I think sometimes the meaning we find is something we can’t put into words, but we have to feel it. 💝
Absolutely 🙂
This is superb. Such a contrast of the party-goer and the tired medical worker. And then the snap – so perfectly illustrated and so imaginable. And it fits the quote very aptly. I love it!
I appreciate your comments, it’s nice to hear when something works well for the reader! 💝
Somedays, turning up the damned music is all that gets us through. Great write!
Yes! Thanks! I’m sure you appreciate the transcendent power of music more than most. It always helps me when down. 🎶
Beautifully realised, Tricia. I didn’t know how fast it goes and I’m probably glad about that. 😉
Thanks so much! It’s interesting the psychology of getting older. I’m 46 now and just beginning to realize we have to savor every moment, good and bad, because they are all valuable. 💖
Such a dire scene you’ve painted here and it’s very evocative in the sense of snapping, our breaking points. Only so much one can handle before it gets too much, and music can definitely be a relief for all those emotions germane to that. Very well-written! It’s very realistic.
Thanks so much, Lucy! 💕
Tricia – wow – I did not expect the words that followed this line – I was expecting some yelling at the very least… you really tricked me 😀
Well done!
Yours,
David
I did want you thinking she was going to scream in anger instead of sing! Thanks for falling for my tricks, David! 😁
aaargh! 😉
I can’t imagine what it’s like for medical staff in these difficult times, Tricia, although I get a bit of an idea from my sister-in-law, who is a nurse, but I do remember turning up the stereo in my car after a long day teaching – it helped! And I’ve been caught singing along to heavy metal on many occasions. 😊
Thanks, Kim! I agree, I love music to help relieve stress! 💝
This was a fun take on the prompt with a serious message. I love imagining this women letting her hair down and putting her foot down at the same time!
Yes! Thanks, Ingrid! ❣️
What a timely story you’ve told. You incorporated the given line so well.
Thanks so much, Linda! ❤️
I think this seems like non-fiction… such a real scene with the contrast between those teenagers and the exhausted nurse. I bet she put on some music that was totally the opposite to what any teen would ever listen to.
Yes! That is a compliment that it seemed like non-fiction. I do love fantasy at times, but I was aiming for a more literary style here. 💝