her speed increased along with her heart rate. She yanked hard on the emergency brake while turning her wheel toward the barely existent shoulder. Time slowed as she swerved off the road. The guardrail crumpled like aluminum foil as her car slammed into it. Her breath hitched in her throat when she looked out the driver’s side window. She teetered on the edge of the cliff. If she moved an inch, it would be the end.
Her heart pounded against her chest. This was how her life would end unless, by some miracle, she found a way out of her car before it took a nosedive off the ridge.
A tall, thin man appeared at her passenger side window, so she pressed the button to lower it, praying her tiny movement wouldn’t cause the car to shift. He tossed her a rope. “Wrap this around your waist. We’re going to get you out of there, but I don’t want to lose you over the edge, so consider that rope your lifeline.”
“I don’t think the rope will hold if my car goes.”
“Humor me.”
She unhooked her seatbelt and slid the loop over her head. “Am I about to die?”
“Not if I can help it.”
“I’m not ready to meet God. I have too many regrets.” Panic welled up inside.
He bent closer. “Keep your movements small. Inch yourself toward me.”
She eased herself a few centimeters to her right and the car groaned.
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