When Ashley’s car broke down on the way to her sister’s wedding, she found herself on the brink of despair. With a dead phone and no hope for help, she had to rely on a mysterious stranger who stopped to assist. Will Ashley make it to the ceremony on time without getting into trouble?
Ashley drove along the highway to her older sister Mary’s wedding, her mind filled with memories. She remembered how Mary had planned her wedding since childhood, dreaming of a beautiful ceremony by a waterfall.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
It was a picturesque location, but it was far away, and Ashley had to drive for seven hours to get there on time. She couldn’t afford to be late because she had the wedding rings.
Suddenly, she heard a strange noise from the car, followed by a strong smell. Ashley’s heart sank as she pulled over to the side of the road and got out of the car. She opened the hood, and smoke poured out, making her cough and step back.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“No, no, please, not this,” Ashley shouted into the void, her voice echoing in the empty landscape. She looked around, but there was nothing in sight, no hint of a service station nearby.
Desperation set in as she realized she couldn’t go any further. She decided to call a tow truck since she had no other choice. She took out her phone, but it was dead.
“Damn!” she shouted. She had meant to charge it but kept putting it off for some reason. “What am I going to do?!” Ashley groaned.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
She took all her necessary items out of the car and locked it, knowing she couldn’t just leave them there. Realizing her only option was to hitchhike, Ashley put her things on the ground next to her and stuck out her thumb to catch a ride. Car after car sped by, ignoring her completely.
Ashley, in despair, sat down next to her bags, tears of frustration welling in her eyes. She didn’t know how she would make it to the wedding. Just as she was losing hope, a large truck pulled up next to her, and the passenger door opened.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
A very suspicious-looking man, twice Ashley’s size, peeked out. He had a scruffy beard and a serious expression, making Ashley feel uneasy. Her instinct was to run, but there was nowhere to go.
“Where do you need to go, miss?” the man asked.
“Uh… nowhere,” Ashley replied, her voice shaky. She didn’t know what to say, and she was scared to get into the truck.
“Miss, you’re unlikely to get picked up on this road,” the man continued. “Tell me where you need to go; maybe I can take you.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“The Sunrise Hotel,” Ashley said. Her mind raced, trying to think of a way out.
“I’m actually heading that way. Get in,” the man offered, gesturing to the empty seat beside him.
“No, you know, it’s not necessary,” Ashley said, trying to sound confident. But her fear was evident.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not a maniac,” said the man. Ashley’s mind flashed with doubt. That’s what maniacs say, she thought to herself.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“So, are you getting in or not?” the man pressed, his patience wearing thin.
Ashley hesitated, her heart pounding. She was scared to get into the truck with this stranger, but she couldn’t afford to be late for the wedding.
“Yes, I’m getting in,” she finally said, her voice small. She took her things and put them in the truck, then climbed in herself, though it took her a couple of tries.
“My name is Trevor,” the man said, breaking the silence as he started driving.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Ashley,” she introduced herself, trying to steady her nerves.
They had been driving for about an hour, and Trevor hadn’t said a word to Ashley. He only glanced at her from time to time, which made Ashley uneasy. The silence in the truck felt heavy.
Ashley decided she needed to charge her phone. She wanted to text her sister so she would know who Ashley was with if anything happened.
Ashley reached into her bag, searching for her phone charger, but her heart sank when she realized she had left it in the car.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Damn!” Ashley said aloud, frustration evident in her voice.
“What’s wrong?” Trevor asked, glancing over at her.
“My phone died, and I left the charger in the car,” Ashley explained, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over her.
“There should be one in the glove compartment. You can use it,” Trevor offered with his eyes back on the road.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Thank you,” Ashley replied, grateful for the help. She reached over and opened the glove compartment. Her eyes widened as she saw a large knife with what looked like bloodstains on it. She froze, staring at the knife.
Trevor noticed her reaction. “Oh, I forgot it was there. It’s my hobby. I collect knives and bring one back from every trip,” he said, his tone casual.
“Uh-huh,” was all Ashley could manage to say. She quickly grabbed the charger, careful not to touch the knife, and closed the glove compartment. She plugged in her phone, silently praying for it to charge quickly.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What do you transport?” Ashley asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
“I’m afraid if I tell you, we’ll have to part ways immediately,” Trevor replied with a hint of mystery. Ashley swallowed hard; things seemed to be getting worse.
“Is this your first time hitchhiking?” Trevor asked, breaking the silence again.
Ashley just nodded, feeling more uneasy with each passing moment.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“You know, I met my ex-wife this way,” Trevor said, as if trying to lighten the mood.
“It must have been some meeting if she’s your ex,” Ashley said, trying to sound nonchalant.
“No, it was a wonderful relationship. She gave me a beautiful son,” Trevor said, a softness entering his voice.
“Why did you break up, then?” Ashley asked, curious despite her fear.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“We didn’t. She died,” Trevor said, his voice growing somber.
“Oh, what happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it. Why don’t you tell me where you’re going?” Trevor suggested.
“To my sister’s wedding,” Ashley said.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Does she know your car broke down?” Trevor asked, glancing at her briefly.
“No, like I said, my phone died,” Ashley admitted, feeling the weight of her situation.
“So she won’t be able to find you?” Trevor asked, his question sending a chill down Ashley’s spine. The knife, the dead wife, and now he wanted to know if anyone could find her. She realized she needed to escape as soon as possible.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I’ll message her as soon as my phone charges,” Ashley said, her voice shaking a bit.
“I see,” Trevor said, his tone unreadable. “I need to refuel, alright?”
“Yes,” Ashley agreed, relief and fear battling within her.
Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into a gas station. Ashley’s heart pounded as she tried to send a message or call her sister, but there was no signal.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Panic set in. She needed to think of a way to escape but couldn’t figure out how to get away and still make it to the wedding on time.
Trevor started refueling the truck. Ashley decided to talk to the cashier. Maybe she could help. She approached the woman at the counter, her voice trembling.
“Can you please call the police? I think someone is trying to harm me,” Ashley whispered urgently.
The cashier’s eyes widened in concern, and she nodded. A few minutes later, the police arrived at the gas station.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
They approached Trevor and started questioning him. Trevor looked confused, not understanding what was happening.
One of the officers turned to Ashley. “What seems to be the problem, miss?”
“He’s got a knife with what looks like blood on it,” Ashley said, her voice shaky. “And he wouldn’t tell me what he was transporting.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The police asked Trevor to open the truck. Ashley watched, her fear mounting as Trevor complied. Inside, she saw shelves full of meat. This sight scared her even more.
One of the officers found the knife in the glove compartment and asked Trevor about the red stains on it.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Trevor calmly explained, “It’s just raspberry jam. I use it to make sandwiches on the road.”
The officer hesitated but then tasted it. It was indeed raspberry jam. After checking Trevor’s documents and verifying his story, the police let him go and left the station.
Ashley stood there, feeling embarrassed. She had jumped to conclusions, but her fear had been real. She watched Trevor approach her, clearly frustrated.
“Did you call the police?!” Trevor asked, his voice loud and filled with anger.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What else could I do?” Ashley shouted back. “You didn’t say what you were transporting, you mentioned your wife was dead, you asked if anyone would notice if I disappeared! And you had a knife with red stains in the glove compartment!”
“You could have just talked to me if it bothered you,” Trevor said, his tone calmer but firm. “Just so you know, I transport meat products from my family’s farm. I didn’t want to mention it because many people are scared of raw meat. I asked if anyone would look for you to offer my phone so you could contact them. And my wife was the person I loved most in the world, taken from me by cancer.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“How was I supposed to know that?!” Ashley shouted, frustration and guilt mixing in her voice.
“If you didn’t judge people by their appearance, you wouldn’t have thought that way,” Trevor replied, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Okay, let’s go.”
“What?” Ashley asked, confused.
“Let’s go. We don’t have much time,” Trevor repeated, his voice now gentle.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“You still want to take me?” Ashley asked, surprised.
“Of course, I’m not the person you think I am,” Trevor said, looking at her with understanding.
“Thank you,” Ashley said quietly, feeling a mix of relief and shame.
The rest of the trip was silent. Ashley reflected on her actions, feeling guilty for jumping to conclusions. Trevor focused on the road, his face a mask of calm.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
They arrived at the hotel just in time. Trevor stopped the truck at the front door of the hotel. Ashley took a deep breath and finally spoke. “I’m sorry for calling the police and for thinking so badly of you,” she said, her voice sincere.
“It’s okay; we all make mistakes,” Trevor replied, his tone forgiving.
“I don’t even know how to thank you. You were the only one who helped me, and I called the police on you,” Ashley said, her eyes filled with gratitude.
“Have a great time at the wedding,” Trevor said with a small smile.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“At least let me buy you lunch,” Ashley offered, wanting to make amends.
“No need, my son is waiting for me at home. I want to get back soon,” Trevor replied, his voice softening at the mention of his son.
“Thank you again. I really appreciate your help,” Ashley said, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
“I hope this trip taught you not to judge people by their looks,” Trevor said, his eyes kind.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Definitely,” Ashley said with a nod. She took her things and got out of the truck. “Thank you,” she said one last time.
Trevor smiled and nodded. Ashley closed the door and walked towards the hotel entrance. She received a message from her sister: “The wedding is in two hours, where are you???”
Ashley rushed inside the hotel, her heart lighter but her mind full of thoughts about the journey and the lessons she had learned.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Derek is desperately searching for his daughter Amber, who disappeared a week ago. The police find no clues, but an unexpected encounter with a homeless person holding Amber’s backpack opens a new lead in the investigation, giving Derek hope that he can find his daughter. Read the full story here.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.
