Cigarettes

 

Assignment:

Write just one paragraph.  It is meant to be the first paragraph of a brand-new story of yours in which we are introduced to a character -- or a place -- 

I was in an Uber on my way to a medical test. I was staring out the window. We were stuck in traffic. It’s sweltering outside. The Uber was cold with blasting air conditioning.

 A worker who lifts heavy beer, soda and water onto trucks from the discount warehouse walked slowly past my window. He leaned against the hood of a red van and lit a cigarette. I was taken back twenty-three years ago when I quit smoking and felt the nicotine rush and the Marlboro taste. I loved smoking; my body was so addicted and manipulated by nicotine addiction. The craving was overwhelming for a few moments. It would have been so easy to light a cigarette. So darn easy to get addicted again.

At that moment I snapped back to the reality of the Uber ride. I took a deep breath and was so very thankful that I don’t smoke anymore.

Georgia