If my life was a car advert.

As I left my house it was unmissable. A sudden wave of stress filled my veins as I entered a state of panic over getting where I needed to go. Somehow I was now wearing a shirt and tie and had a folder full of papers under a sweat laden arm. The shirt was scruffy, buttoned up in the wrong order and the tie was loose around a neck that was struggling to gulp down the harsh air of the reality that was my life. I started to run towards my car, it seemed I owned a car now, but I dropped the folder and it flew open, scattering all my files and paperwork all over the drive. The wind took some out into the road and others landed in puddles, ruining what I can only assume to be vital contracts or something equally as important. I let out a sigh that suggested I'd been here before. It was going to be one of those days, wasn't it?

My boss would surely be furious that I was both late and turning up with ruined documentation that may well scupper our chances of bringing in the big client. I began to hyperventilate, at least I think I did, I was too panic stricken to really notice what I was doing. After finally gathering in all the contents of my folder and closing it back up I made my way over to the car. My reflection was visible in the dew soaked window and for that split moment I wondered whether this was really the man I wanted to be. Was this really the dream? Was this really the best I could do? I reached into my trouser pocket and pulled out the keys. Hanging from the key-ring was a picture of the family I was part of once, my young daughter's smile now faded after nights of being held in my palm and my estranged wife beginning to look resentful even back then. What had I done? How had I lost them?

I put the key in the car door, resigned to my future, destined to be a part of the mundane forever more. There was nothing I could do about it now. This was my life.



Click. The car door opened. A waft of warm air flooded out and the hairs on the back of my neck tingled a little as they were welcomed into their new environment. The inside of the car was soft and kind, the glow completely contrasting the the harsh inevitability of the outside. I leaned through the door and sat down in the driving seat. It engulfed me, welcoming my frame into its. I pulled the door shut behind me. We were one now.
I turned around and threw my folder into the back seat. That was for later, that was for the future to worry about. This was my time and nothing was going to ruin that. I put the key in the ignition and the engine roared into action, filling my arms with power and purpose as they held onto the steering wheel to keep that metal dragon in shape. I put my foot onto the accelerator and revved a little, the exhaust sending the leaves behind running away in fear. I loosened the top button on my shirt, pulling off my tie in the process and flicking up my collar. Suddenly my hair looked thicker. Everything seemed so clear now, everything seemed so perfect. All that mattered was the road ahead of me, all that was important was how I drove it.
I put it into gear.
I took off the hand break.
I took off the breaks on my life.

As I drove off the sound of fuel being burned filled the street. A mildly motivational slogan appeared as if by magic telling other men that this could be they way they lived too and that if they bought now they could pay in easily manageable monthly amounts. My drive faded to black. My car's logo appeared.
I was going to ring my wife later.
Everything was all going to be okay.