A motorbike was speeding through the slight traffic making zigzag turns as if a snake was sliding to catch its prey.

Patrick loved riding, it made him feel like a bird flying in the sky. Normally, he would ride at his own pace enjoying the winds but it was different today. He was late for one of his best friend’s birthday party. And the reason for it was his friend Drake who he had to pick up from the other side of town. Drake’s sister would borrow his car from time to time and Drake never hesitated calling Patrick to pick him up. It annoyed Patrick but he himself had asked for a ride or two from his friends so he just couldn’t deny.

Patrick was an average 19 year old guy. Black hair, brown eyes, 5.9 ft tall and slim build with average looks. He was neither social nor antisocial. He had a small circle of friends and was happy with it. He appreciated privacy and shared only what was needed and spoke less. He wasn’t a genius but was smart and disciplined. If he needed to remember something, he’d repeat it 50 times or 100 times inside his mind if needed, such was his habit and his way of self motivating and disciplining himself.

“Hey rick, lets go from the road to the right across the next block, it’ll be faster”. A loud voice was heard from behind him which nearly made him lose his balance. He was not sure why Drake suggested that, as it meant going the wrong way into a no-entry. Sure, if he took that right turn for about 200 meters, it would avoid making a round trip and save time but it was still the wrong way.

“I don’t think so Drake. Its a no-entry”.

“Oh, come on! Its always empty, even if we go, no one would notice and the cctv camera there has not been working for few months now” argued Drake. It sounded right, the road was narrow and always empty, no vehicles could be seen coming from the right as there were shorter alternative ways.

No matter how disciplined, Patrick was still a 19 year old who did occasional mischief here and there so taking the always empty and shorter road didn't seem a big deal to him.

“Ok then, just today as we are already late” said Patrick as he neared the corner and turned the handle left.

“HHHRRNNNNNNNNN” Everything seemed to slow down when he heard that loud horn noise coming from the truck which was only about three meters his front. There was not time to turn, no space to dodge and even if he stopped, the inertia would throw him 2 meters easily. Moreover, the truck was speeding from the other side, no way to avoid collision, instant death for sure.

Life flashed in that short moment before death. His life till now, his parents, his friends, it all seemed like it was yesterday. He was always careful, and avoided unnecessary troubles. If he felt he needed to do something, he’d constantly remind himself to strengthen his resolve. A single wrong decision and everything was going to end. He didn’t fear death itself as everybody had to die someday, but he never thought it would end so soon, he wasn’t even married, he had yet to live life to the fullest.

But it didn’t matter now, death was at the door. May it was because he was just a teenager, no matter how many times he reminded himself, there was bound to be a mistake. If he got another chance, he would never take that turn. He wasn’t ready to accept this so all he could do was deny it .

“I can’t die! I can’t die! I can’t die! I can’t die! I can’t die ....”

“SCREECHH....BANG... THWAKKKK”

“..............”

Silence. Darkness. Emptiness. No thoughts, nothing. The End. The persona called Patrick vanished from the world.

“................”

“can’t... “

“die... “

“can’t.. die.... can’t.. die.... can’t die”

Two words kept repeating in the boundless nothingness. No one was speaking it for there was no one to speak, no one could hear it for there were none listening, but somehow the same words kept repeating like a small piece of wood floating endlessly in the middle of ocean, rocking here and there with each waves, floating without care.