Under the Overpass

A flash sparked across the sky as the train's wheels wailed overhead.  Shannon braced herself against the wind and the noise, hugging her maroon corduroy blazer tight.  Waiting under a bridge on the other side of town after dark was no picnic.  Overnight, or so it seemed to Shannon, her entire life had become an endless reel of scenes just like this.  And it was beginning to feel dangerous.  

From deeper under the overpass, Shannon heard a subtle rustle.  She snapped her head in that direction and squinted her eyes, scanning the area.  Her only source of light was a blinding spot shining from the deserted parking lot across the street.  And then he came into view.

It was not who Shannon expected.  Her breath caught in her throat and she clenched her fist to her gut.  Adrenaline flooded her system "Wh-who's there?" she stammered, starting to slink behind a concrete pillar.  

"Hi there!  Welcome.  I'm Dan."

Dan's genuine tone instantly put out the fire burning in her chest.  Her confusion at his response encouraged her to inquire, "Welcome where?"

"Welcome to my home, darling."  Dan gestured at the illuminated area before them and the small nook from whence he emerged.  Shannon imagined that was some sort of bedroom, if this was really this guy's home.  He was probably just out of his mind.

"What brings you to this hairy neck of the woods?" Dan asked with concern in his clear green eyes.

"Oh, I'm just waiting for someone."  Shannon kicked the gravel at her feet.  "I didn't know anyone lived here."

"Here, why don't you have a seat while you wait?"  Dan brushed off the top of a cinder block.  "Do you have a match?"

Shannon audibly exhaled.  Hopefully Dan would offer her a cigarette, too.  "I do, actually."  She rummaged around in her bag. 

"Great!  Now we can have a fire.  It’s getting chilly."  Dan proceeded to toss one of the lit sticks into a metal barrel, causing its contents to ignite and create a beautiful bounty of warmth.

Not knowing what else to do or say, Shannon accepted the seat Dan offered.  He quickly plopped down next to her on his own cinder block seat.  Shaking her crossed legs, Shannon looked around a bit anxious, but no one else was there.  "So, do you ever think of living somewhere real?"

"This is my real home," Dan answered.

"So you’re a junkie then," Shannon stated, not bothering to ask.

"Not at all, but it appears that you are."

Shannon blurted, "No!  Not that it is any of your business.  I just happen to be a person who enjoys recreational drugs."

"And, I just happen to be a person who enjoys living outside."

Shannon jumped to her feet as the first car of the night rolled by.  As she hopped in the back seat she scoffed, "Whatever, DAN."

"Good luck writing your story, darling," he called back.  "Good luck."

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This piece is a work of fiction and was inspired by this week's the speakeasy writing prompt.  For the challenge we had to use the first line, "A flash sparked across the sky" and refer, in some way, to the photo above.  Click on the button below to read the prompt and the other beautiful writers who hang out there.  Thanks!