Stay With Me Laura

It's dark outside, and our car is speeding down the highway at a reasonable rate. I don't know what time it is, but judging by the sky, I'm guessing it's around 11 pm. There's a stranger driving, and I can sense the attention he keeps giving me, his eyes flicking towards me every now and then. I'm surprised by how comfortable I feel, despite the unease that should come with being alone with a stranger. I know he's trying to say something, but he's having a mental debate about whether he should or not. The weird thing is, everything in me is craving to know what he has to say. I sit up straight, pretending that none of this affects me, and watch as we pass by every pine tree. The snow must have started hours ago while I was asleep, because every pine tree I see is now covered in a dusty white coat, leaving tiny green patches here and there. The car windows are coated in a thin layer of snow, except for the windshield with the wipers swishing back and forth. There's no sign of birds or life except us in this part of the woods. It feels like almost an hour of his mental debate before he finally speaks. "You're so beautiful, Lora, and there's nothing in this world that I'd want to trade you for," he says, reaching out for my hand. His face is blurred, but I know he has the most beautiful smile plastered on it as he brings my hand to his lips and places a chaste kiss on it. It's just a simple phrase, but I know he means every word he said, and that's everything I need to hear for my heart to skip a beat. "I lo...", he doesn't finish his sentence when I hear a crashing sound, and I'm swallowed by darkness... Read on to find out.