She was supposed to have been in Sacramento by two
o’clock to go over the final arrangements for the annual partners’ dinner that
night, but it must be long past two by now.
Emily liked things to go according to plan –
insisted on it – to the frequent annoyance of colleagues who often suggested she try to be more flexible, but “flexible” was just another word for
indecision to Emily who prided herself on her decisiveness.
She watched as the large crane pulled her
submerged sedan from the lake’s chilly, black water, and knew that lovely new
cocktail dress she had so meticulously packed was probably ruined. The car was slowly lowered down onto the
bank where it was quickly surrounded by rescue personnel who now carefully pulled
Emily’s lifeless body from the vehicle.
As Emily felt herself floating farther and farther
away from the scene, she wondered if perhaps, just this once, she should have
been a little more flexible.
This post is
in response to the Five Sentence Fiction prompt “Detour.”
