The city began to fall alive as the night sky began to shift away and a pastel bronze expanded overhead. In a blink, street lights began to click off.

My view was limited to the gaze behind. I was a simple attachment on a modern automobile, the driver's side exterior mirror. I wondered how long I'd be forced to gaze behind.

A stream of people leaving their three flat apartments became visible. The homes were not more than five feet apart, towering in all directions. Everything about such living arrangements felt claustrophobic and crowded. The sidewalks were remarkably clean. This neighborhood was well maintained and reflected a community who took pride in their surroundings.

The humans seemed to be in a hurry at that hour. Their clothes were dressy as if they would be attending church services, but somehow I suspected it was a typical work day. Men carried briefcases, camera bags, satchels. Most women were holding ornate purses and wearing long thin jackets. Heels clicked as they walked and well toned legs were apparent as they moved. Several people carried brown lunch bags and I suddenly missed the simple pleasure of a good meal.

From the building several doors away, a man and a woman were seen holding hands as they scaled the tall row of concrete steps. The man was grinning with warmth at her and her solemn face softened as she brushed her lips to his.

For some reason beyond understanding, this show of affection filled me with regret. I had no recollection of such feelings and yet seeing them together filled me with an overwhelming sadness.

"You have a safe trip." The man said escorting her to the car.

"I'll be back tomorrow." She whispered, hugging him with desperation.

"Do you have all of your bags?"

"I put them in the trunk last night. I didn't want to wrinkle my clothes lugging them out here at this hour."

"Funerals are difficult. I wish I could've managed the time away from work to go with you."

"Me too, but I'll survive." The woman responded.

"Etta, let your sister know how sorry I am about her loss." The man said with sincerity.

"I can't imagine loosing a husband at such an early age. If something ever happened to you, I don't know what I'd do."

"Me too Etta. It makes us appreciate the time we have now, you know?"

Etta nodded.

"Maybe we should consider having children soon." The man said in nearly a whisper.

"Yes, I suppose we should do it while we're young enough to enjoy them."

"We'll talk some more when you return tomorrow. Please call me the minute you get there this afternoon." The man said gazing down at the auto. He tapped his fingers lightly on the door. "The car should be in good shape. I had the alternator replaced last week and the oil changed."

"Good." Etta said brushing her lips to her husband.

"You'd better go."

Etta paused a moment as if memorizing her husband's appearance. She nodded, brushing tears away that were now rolling down her cheeks.

"You've always had trouble saying the word goodbye." He said.

"See you tomorrow Randy." Etta replied, fumbling with a ring of keys.

"Love you." Randy proclaimed.

"I love you too." She responded swinging inside the car.

I watched as we pulled away. Randy stood, his briefcase at his feet, his hand frozen in mid air, fingers wriggling in unison. There was such sadness in his expression. It was as if his heart was now beating without purpose.

I gazed inside as Etta clicked on the stereo. A morning talk show filtered through the closed window. Her hand trembled as she wiped away the river of tears.

"This is going to be a difficult time." She whispered to herself.

The morning sky shifted as the day progressed. White clouds that were scattered began to accumulate. By mid afternoon, the sky was completely overcast and tiny bits of rain began to spit.

Etta had pulled a cassette and was singing in a voice in tune with the music. "Last night I said these words to my love...." "come on, come on...."

It seemed as if the sky blackened in contrast to the perky music.

Etta pulled to the side of the road and studied a map.

Two exit ramps down, the car headed off the main highway and onto a stretch surrounded by nothing but corn fields.

Rain began to pelt the earth lacking any mercy. It was as if someone were holding several hoses above on full throttle. The sky was nearly black and visibility was limited. The road twisted and turned, lifted then fell. Etta grasped the steering wheel in such a grip that her knuckles were pale.

Hours fell away and yet we kept moving. I noticed the lack of other cars about and the how road was deserted. I believed anyone with an ounce of common sense would not be traveling under such treacherous road conditions.

Etta gazed at her watch then whipped the car to the side of the road.

"I should've been there two hours ago." She said, pulling the map and rotating it in a frantic circle.

"I should've stuck to the main road and not used Randy's short cut. I'm lost!"

Etta pulled the car onto the street and maneuvered a u turn. She sped off in the opposite direction and her face was now tight with fear. Night was only minutes away and the storm horrendous. Sheets of rain forced her to slow and what would have taken a half hour under normal conditions, now took twice as long.

"I should be at the funeral to help my sister through this, for cryin' out loud." Etta said banging her fist on the steering wheel showing her outright frustration.

Etta reached into a nap sack and pulled a can of peanuts. She began to nibble as she drove. A moment later, she retrieved a can of diet Pepsi clicking the top. A spray of brown splattered about, but Etta did not seem to notice. Taking proficient sips, her eyes never wavered from the street ahead.

It wasn't until the rain stopped that Etta's surroundings became apparent. Farm fields were no longer on either side of the road, but a thick forest rolled along on both sides. The street seemed to narrow with every mile that passed.

"Where and the heck am I?" Etta said, her eyes wide with panic.

The car continued forward. Just as we swerved through a maze of curves and twists, the headlights seemed to dim. Etta stretched her fingertips to a knob and rotated the dial. Still, the lights illuminating ahead dimmed further making it near impossible to see.

Music from inside the car began to fade until it was non-existent.

A moment later, the engine died. Etta maneuvered the car to the side of the road in a rolling glide. After a long stretch of decline, the wheels ceased to turn.

Etta's face contorted, showing a sudden panic... alone, lost, isolated, stranded, a traveler's worst nightmare.

The only light available was now from the crescent moon overhead, since the electrical system was completely exhausted.

"Oh Randy, what I wouldn't do for you to be with me at this moment." Etta said stepping from the car. She stood a moment and I could sense she was hoping her eyes would adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings.

Something scurried in the brush next to the car and she jumped with fright.

"If only there was a CB in the car. That still wouldn't help.... I haven't a clue where I'm at."

Etta slid back inside the compact sedan and popped open the glove box. Inside she pulled a flashlight and clicked it on. The light was dwindling, as if there wasn't much battery remaining.

"Isn't this great." She spat with frustration.

Hurrying outside the car, she swung around to the trunk. Etta's hands trembled as she located the proper key to unlock the enclosure.

Etta heaved an overnight bag and placed it on the front seat. She unlatched the clasps and began to scrounge through.

Without hesitation, she slid out from her dress, high heeled shoes, panty hose, and slip. I directed my attention elsewhere the moment I realized she was removing her dress clothes. Etta replaced her formal attire with loose fitting pants and a matching sweat shirt. A moment later, she squatted onto the seat and laced her tennis shoes.

"At first light I'll hike out of here." She said to herself.

Etta took great care at replacing her clothes and folding her skirt into the satchel. After lugging the bag to the trunk, she took her seat in the driver's side of the car. With a click, the seat reclined into a sleeping position.

Etta closed her eyes and a moment later, her attention fell to the doors. With incredible speed, she began to lock one after the other until all four were secure.

"I should've stopped for lunch." She said.

"Hello!" I screamed from the mirror next to her.

"Do you need help?" I questioned.

Etta pulled her seat upright and gazed about with uncertainty.

"I think I could manage to get you out of here if you need help." I projected in a loud tone.

Etta shook her head dismissing my offer as she tilted back in the seat once again.

It wasn't too long before she was snoring. That was the reason she missed flagging down the sole automobile that zoomed past pelting the car with mud.

"Randy..." Etta said in her sleep, stirring from the sound of the engine. "Would you get the phone?"

"It's probably your mother calling to complain about her neighbor's dog keeping her awake."

Etta turned her face to the opposite side of the car.

Deer scampered across the road just a few feet behind. It was majestic the way the herd trotted in unison.

I noticed a red pin light in the distance floating haphazard. At first it vibrated, then it rose and fell. Over and over the light scurried in the same pattern until it was cast to the pavement. It was then sprays of tiny embers splattered from the center and burned out.

Distinct footsteps became audible as a quick firelight illuminated a human face. It was a man, a rough looking character with a knife tipped scar spanning from his left ear to the base of his chin.

After scar-face lit another cigarette, he waved the match light out.

I could sense his curiosity directed at the stranded sedan parked in the middle of nowhere.

"Now look what we have here." Scar-face muttered in a sarcastic tone.

He placed the cigarette to his lips and allowed it to dangle.

With his other hand he reached to the door and pulled the latch with brute force.

"Figures it's locked." He spat.

A moment later, he lit a match and held it to the driver's side window.

Scar-face whistled through his teeth as he noticed Etta inside.

"Listen buddy! YOU LEAVE HER ALONE!" I said not liking Etta's vulnerability at being asleep.

"I think I'll have a bit of fun with her." Scar-face announced sealing his thought with a wicked giggle.

"BACK OFF!" I screamed.

The man tapped on Etta's window then hurried to the hind end of the car. He hunkered down below the line of view in a swift dive.

Etta sat upright in her seat, her chest rising and falling with fear.

"Oh yeah, I'm stranded." She said gazing about the car. Etta rolled her window down several inches and listened intently. Crickets chirped, a jetliner rumbled the midnight sky and she seemed satisfied that everything was just as it should be.

"Etta!" I screamed as she gazed about startled.

"Etta, over here......the side mirror." The woman swung her gaze to my port, but her face contorted panic as the man with the scar was now posed motionless near the back tire. He appeared so still that one might mistake him for a statue of shadowed horror. Etta began to tremble.

"Just say the word Etta and I'll get you out of this mess." I said feeling her fright.

"Etta!" I screamed, realizing she was in shock, frozen, paralyzed.

"Etta, over here....the mirror. I'm Robert, I can give you one wish. Look at me...see the mirror man, not the creep outside. I'm here, I can help! Please let me help you."

The man slowly approached Etta as she began to whimper. "Oh no!" She cried hysterical. "Please leave me alone. I didn't do anything to you...you've got to leave me alone."

The vague figure began to laugh and the crickets seemed to sense the danger as their banter muted into silence.

He pulled another stick to his lips and lit the cigarette. Etta screamed as his mangled face became illuminated.

The man laughed more viciously as he stood contemplating Etta's helplessness.

"Ya like my face lady?" He asked with a sharp tone.

"Just leave me alone. Sweet Jesus, I wish I were anywhere but here... I wish I were home instead of in such a predicament." Etta said with tears falling down her cheeks.

"Consider your request granted my friend." I proclaimed as the car lifted straight off the ground and took flight. Etta rubbed her eyes several times in disbelief. The curious figure below gazed upwards staggering back as we put distance between him and the auto rising above.

The country below us shifted and changed. The thick forest dissolved, transforming into acres of corn fields and in a blink, hundreds of headlights came into focus rolling along the interstate.

"Who are you?" Etta asked studying my face within the frame of the mirror.

"One of the good guys." I responded nonchalant.

Not ten minutes later, I landed her car in a tight parking space just in front of her three flat apartment.

"He was going to hurt me, wasn't he?" Etta questioned.

"I can only imagine." I replied.

"Thank you sir." She said gazing to the apartment window above.

Randy was peering out and his expression reflected shock at Etta's sudden arrival. A moment later, he was rushing down the front stairway, taking three at a time.

"I was so worried about you Etta." He said as she swung out of her seat and into his embrace. His eyes studied every inch of the car as if finally seeing it for the first time.

"The car's broken again. It did the same thing as before... I think it's the alternator. I was stranded in the middle of nowhere and a man was ready to attack me." Etta declared somewhat hysterical. "Did you see the car? It flew here and dropped me home. It honestly did!"

Randy shook his head no, his face lined with concern from his wife's incredible story.

"I'm just happy you're okay." Randy whispered escorting her away.

"Wait." Etta said as Randy removed his hand from her shoulder.

Etta darted back, her lips appeared close to the mirror. "Robert... thank you!"

With Etta's simple gratitude, the mirror popped into a webbed shaped break. I found myself in the transport tunnel once again, hurling forward in an abrupt fashion, spinning and looping towards a keyhole shaped light radiating at the end. Another port was waiting, another mess to fix. I should've been pleased with the results of this assignment, but to my surprise I felt a numbness within my heart. I thought about the way Randy appeared as his wife drove off. Somehow that image was haunting, somehow their bond struck a nerve. I felt at odds as my spirit passed through the keyhole. A heavy fog left question about my new assignment. My new surroundings were blurry, I was now stranded within a frosted square of mirror, I could only imagine the new circumstance for which the humans were in need.