1 Dusty roads

Sandra Lee Cuthwright had just come off a forty-eight hour shift, exhausted and hungry she drove the 2 hours and thirty-five minutes from St.louis to her home in Chesterfield Missouri. It's a nice quiet town that she grew up in and has never thought to leave. The night sky was ominously still as she chugged along in her black Ford focus, a car she has deemed sensible but stylish.

"The roads are nice and clear at this time of night" Sandra thought to herself as she relaxed into her seat a bit more before noticing a particularly enjoyable song come on the radio. She reached for the knob to turn up the volume when all of a sudden she see's a bright light traveling fast from her left side. At that moment all she heard was the clash of metal grinding against each other and then ringing in her ears, such loud ringing.

"Make it stop, it hurts!" she thought just before passing out completely.

Sandra awoke at home in her bed, to a raging headache , took a pain reliever and began getting ready for work. Her body feels heavy and her head throbbed with every action. She slipped off her night clothes and decided a shower was in order. As the water poured over her short dark hair she tries to recall what happened last night. The thought pained her aching head even more so she decided to think of work instead. "What needs to be worked on? ah yes, the Burtlets building designs are due today" the water soothes her pounding head and achy back. "I must have slept wrong my back is so sore, ugh but I have work to do". She slips into a pair of black slacks and a perfectly modest business top before heading out, she absolutely needed her morning coffee before she could even think about socializing with her co-workers. With that in mind she picked up an iced latte at Starbucks and as she was about to leave; a beautiful woman caught her eyes. Strawberry blonde hair braided to perfection and a thin but athletic body to compliment the length of her dress. Her presence has an air of sadness hidden behind a smile, yet beautiful nonetheless. Sandra realized she had been staring when the woman's eyes caught her glance, her piercing eyes seemed to gaze into her soul. Immediately Sandra regained composure and walked casually to her car and drove away almost relieved that she had gotten away unscathed. She remembered her last relationship and what a disaster that was, she decided relationships were not for her.

The company that hired her insisted she work in house so that she can be contacted easily for updates and changes from clients deciding they don't like the design they had approved a week ago and wanting the whole bottom floor redrafted to their specifications no matter how retched their vision is. The phone rings "speak of the devil" Sandra muttered under her breath before answering "Hello Mr. Burtlet, yes I am working on the new draft now, are you sure you want the bathroom to open into the kitchen? Yes sir I'll let them know." she sighs heavily stepping out of her car into the work parking lot "why do they insist they know exactly what they want".

"Mr. Burtlet giving you a hard time again ?" Clark chimed in, he's a stocky man with silver streaks running through his hair.

"Oh you heard that huh?" her shoulders drooped.

"I hear everything." he smirked while standing proud.

"I'm not so convinced." she said teasingly under her breath.

"Huh, what was that ?" he shot back with a stern look before they both broke out laughing. "yeah alright, I may be old but I still got my looks" he smiles broadly with one eyebrow cocked.

"Oh yeah, a real lady killer Mr. Fantastic" Sandra managed to hold back her chortle at the defeated posture Clark had made. He has been Sandy's father figure for years, almost immediately after she began to work for the company. He had essentially adopted her as one of his own. He is the lead engineer at the firm that works closely with the architects, such as Sandra.

"Hey, so you should come out with me and the boys tonight for drinks to celebrate the completion of the Burtlet project." what he means by "the boys" is his group of engineer underlings that worship the ground he walks on. "No thanks, I still have other projects to work on." she was trying to convince him she was too busy to go out tonight, with little success.

With a knowing glance he replied "I know what projects your implying and that they aren't due for two more weeks, come on Sandra you can't keep moping about because one relationship went south."

She ponders 'I guess it wouldn't hurt too much... once in a while' before relenting "Alright, you twisted my arm, where are we going?"

"Ye olé' Pub down the street, they have the best brews" he smiles defiantly in his success.

"But" she quickly adds.

"There's a but?"

"No more mentioning my failed love life, got it?" seriousness in her tone.

"No promises" he walks off before she can rescind her decision to go with them. She stares back at her draft of the buildings layout on the computer knowing full well the client will not be happy with the layout he vehemently demanded must be exactly to his specifications but resided herself to accept the complaints that will ultimately fall on her shoulders as the architect of such an abomination "He is paying for it after all".

That night Sandra fussed to find an outfit to wear, she didn't do socializing and was now cursing herself for even entertaining the idea that this would be any fun; nonetheless, she said she would go so she will be there. She finally settles with a yellow halter top dress that perfectly defines her waist and emphasizes her tone back. "Ok, you can do this. It's not a big deal, just go have a drink to calm the anxiety and you'll be fine" she encourages herself for the outing that she knew already would be a disaster.

Upon reaching Ye olé Pub she immediately spotted Clark, his silver streaks unmistakable.

"Hey, you made it!" Clark bellowed as a smile crossed his face. He was surrounded by three other guys, each seemingly younger than the last.

"Can these kids even drink?" Sandra teased.

"All but one, Tommy boy come here introduce yourself." Clark tugged a young man to his side in a fatherly manner then placing his hand up covering the side of his mouth he whispered "He's the DD."

"I chose to be the designated driver, thank you very much. My mom says drinking is for drunks who have no future" the young man spoke defiantly.

"Well I'm sure it's appreciated by your peers nonetheless... uh Tommy?" Sandra as awkward as ever already wished she had said no when she had the chance. They all made their way into the bar and ordered their prospective tastes in alcohol except Tommy he had a Coke. The two other guys seemed interested only in football as they began spouting statistics and names of strangers Sandra will never recognize. She thought to herself "An odd number of people in our little group" as this crossed her mind she noticed something familiar across the bar, strawberry blonde hair. She made her way to the stranger this time almost drawn to her but stopped herself as she drew nearer. Fleeing back to the bar counter she sighed softly.

"Where's your family Sandy?" Suddenly the woman was standing next to her seemingly gazing through her, the woman's hand reached up and caressed the scar on Sandra's eyebrow. At this moment Sandra noticed what a lovely scent the strange woman has, she was intoxicated by the aroma. She tried to reply but the words would not leave her tongue, at the same time the woman disappeared back into the crowd of people dancing and drinking. Her heart beat loudly "I didn't even get her name." taken aback by the experience her eyes still searching the crowd when Clark walked up and handed her a drink.

"Everything alright?" Clark's concern was minimal but sincere.

"Yeah, that woman..."

"Who? Did you meet someone finally? I knew bringing you here would get you out of that funk." he proclaimed quite pleased with himself.

"Yeah, whatever old man" she teased glancing back one more time before returning to her drink.