Crunch: The Moment Too Late
Writing Exercise #29
I am late and thinkin’ bout being late.
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Enjoy!
Crunch: Write about being late
I looked at my watch. Ten minutes. Just ten minutes to close. I can make it. I can make it.
The bus doors opened, I bolted out of my seat and practically leapt headlong onto the rain-soaked sidewalk.
The Journey of a lifetime, the ad had said. Enter at select locations! One Day only!
I remember scrolling through their website to find all the locations. And there it was—across town from work, but—in town.
I bolted down the streets, splashing through puddles, vaulting in front of traffic in the small one-way side streets. My lungs burned. I dared not look at my watch. I can make it.
StarCorp was the company. They promised a lottery—five people would be chosen to accompany the crew to the first permanent orbital city. They would be the first citizens. FIRST. In space! A new beginning!
I rounded the corner, slipped in the rain, slammed hard into a blue post-box. I barely registered, even though some passers by yelped at the impact. I scrambled to my feet, and bolted away. I can make it.
I could see the blue StarCorp awning in the distance. This was it! I pushed as hard as I could. I was flying down the street. The awning was closer.
A blue-uniformed man stepped out, fumbling a ring of keys.
“WAIT!” I shouted.
He slammed the metal gate down over the door.
“Too late, Kid.” He said.
= = =
That was the luckiest day of my life.
(250 words)
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Would you go to space?
Ever been a moment too late for something?
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That last sentence was an unexpected surprise!
I could not handle the orange level of Epcot's Mission Space, so I can't imagine I'd do well in a real life take off, lol.
I didn't realize until too late that a Crunch is supposed to be 250 words. But once I had the idea, I couldn't get rid of it. Thanks for the prompt! :)
https://open.substack.com/pub/maximilianhart/p/the-late?r=lutdo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web