Without by E.E. Borton

rioting. But Todd helped solidify my belief that
trouble could pop up anywhere at any time. The difference that worried me the
most between cowards out here and cowards in the city was slung across my back.
    In the city they held small pistols sideways, hoping one of
their many bullets would hit its mark. Out here, there were skilled hunters
with scoped Remington 700 rifles – like mine – who could easily pick me off
with one shot at five hundred yards. I’d never hear it coming.
    When I was making my bug out plan on the night of day one, I
anticipated where I would be on day five. Even with manmade and natural
setbacks, I was still on schedule. I knew I was approaching the last densely
populated area I was somewhat comfortable entering. After the next town I’d
take a sharp left and head into the Johns Mountain Wildlife Area. It would take
me a day and a half to cross it, but it was worth the extra time in order to
avoid people. People were gripped by fear and becoming more desperate as each
hour passed. It would be my last day traveling along a highway out in the open.
    There wasn’t a cloud in the sky or soul on the road as I
made my way closer to town. The sun was high when I walked up to the top of a
rise and slid the rifle off my shoulder. I was using the scope to check out
long stretches in front of me. As I peered through it I didn’t see any
movement. But I did see her.
    Holy shit.
    It took everything I had not to run down the other side of
the rise. (She wasn’t going anywhere.) I stopped again to confirm what I saw.
She was even more beautiful the closer I got. I slung the rifle over my
shoulder and quickened my pace. I stopped dead in my tracks when she was at
arm’s length. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was Eleanor.
    Plastic surgeons wouldn’t have been able to remove the smile
on my face as I stared down at her. My mind raced back to see Sam poking fun at
me the third time she caught me watching the movie “ Gone in 60 seconds .”
It didn’t take her long to figure out Eleanor was my dream car. It was poetic
when I looked in the window to see my dream girl sitting in the passenger seat.
I peered up into the sky.
    Thank you, God.
    “I can’t believe I’m actually jealous of a car,” said Sam as
I gingerly opened the door and sat in the driver’s seat.
    “This isn’t a car, baby,” I said, gripping the
polished wood steering wheel. “This is the car. This is a 1967 Shelby
Mustang GT500. It’s even Eleanor’s color.”
    “Her color?”
    “Yes,” I said. “She’s perfect.”
    “I’m not sure which one of us you’re happier to see?”
    “Both, angel. I’m so happy to see you both. It’s been a
rough couple of days, you know.”
    “I know,” said Sam, reaching over and squeezing my knee.
“That’s why I brought you to her.”
    “I can’t begin to thank you enough,” I said. “My dream girl
sitting inside my dream car. I don’t think this moment could be any more
perfect.”
    “You’ve earned it, sweet boy.”
    My eyes were glassing over. I closed them and inhaled her
perfume, feeling her hand on my knee. My mind suspended reality, gifting me
with a magnificent daydream. With the windows down, the dead engine roared to
life with a throaty growl. Pushing in the clutch, every other car on the road
vanished in thin air, giving me a clear straightaway for miles. Sliding the
shifter into first, I popped it, leaving white smoke swirling behind us. As the
wheels screamed, so did I.
    I could barely hear Sam yelling with me. Her gleaming smile
was being swatted by her hair as I accelerated. She was holding onto the dash
as the world flew by us at a hundred and twenty miles per hour. Sam’s smile was
being forced through clenched teeth. I slowed down to give her a break from my
excitement.
    “Wow, I had no idea this car was that fast,” said Sam, relaxing.
    “It can go faster,” I said, grinning.
    “No, no, that’s okay, honey. I believe you. This is a really
good