LIfe Needs More Popcorn!

* Some Gore in story below, reader

discretion is advised

The winding road seemed to last forever as darkness enveloped his black convertible. It had been an unusually cool day and now it was an even colder night. Empty beer cans rattled around the vehicle each time he shifted gears while accelerating uphill. They had remained tucked away under the driver's seat until tonight.

A thick fog rolled in quickly near Timbers Lake Bridge, a popular hangout for residents and visitors. Needed improvements to the structure were underway as the ongoing project was long overdue.

While it sustained itself through many storms, heavy traffic, and tragic accidents the bridge was nearly 100 years old. The frigid air whipped relentlessly and briskly at Jay's face, but it didn't seem to matter. This damn night had given him more grief to handle and an even bigger pain to manage.

The permits to use specific scenic locations for his film production had been rejected. Jay was not only now overbudget, but completion of his first feature film hung in the balance. He refused to accept the idea of defeat, something a narcissist cannot process.

"Fuck You and your permit," he shouted while speeding towards Timbers Lake Bridge.

"This film is happening now!" "Let's go Jay!" he chanted to himself while screeching tires, parking, and reaching for a tripod in the backseat.

The camera, an expensive Arri was also in the car but Jay, decided a gritty real time feel using his phone was enough for him.

"Yes!" he yelled while setting up the camera phone. He established the angles and shot he needed to achieve before jumping back in the car. He spotted one more unopened beer can. Without hesitating, Jay filmed himself guzzling the beer. A horrible sounding burp was also captured on film.

He started the vehicle, revved his engine, and did a partial doughnut while the phone captured it all. This was Jay's first take.

On the third take which involved Jay speeding on the bridge without headlights was completed successfully. He jumped out of the convertible and began celebrating the completion of his film.

"Fucking yeah, yes, yes!"

He decided a selfie with his middle finger would be great to use for the theatrical poster.

The darkness and silence hung over the bridge as Jay began to remove his tripod. His phone was almost out of bars when bright headlights blinded him. A rookie policeman didn't see him as he focused on an emergency call blaring from his radio.

News of the Timbers Lake tragedy spread like wildfire through the community. Social media platforms broke with the news, but also aired Jay's entire film. The internet couldn't handle the volume it received for months.

In Jay's final take he reminded everyone and loudly proclaimed, his life needed more popcorn.

"Life needs more popcorn!"

"Life needs more popcorn!"

"Life needs more popcorn!"

The speeding patrol car with a rookie behind the wheel, fatally struck Jay. It severely damaged Timbers Lake Bridge before colliding with an embankment and rolling into the dark, unassuming body of water.

The silent moments after the crash eeriely projected a weird energy and the quiet resonated throughout the area. It was intense. Most nocturnal animals that normally roamed and hunted for food, were nowhere in sight. The cold lake rippled in a rhythmic way.

On this extremely early and frigid morning, the community remained asleep. The passerby who discovered the accident was using the bridge as a landmark. She actually made a wrong turn attempting to find a highway and noticed the huge, damaged hunk of metal sitting in the road. One jagged fragment was wedged in her front tire, but luckily did not puncture the tread.

Her mobile device couldn't find a signal. She always travelled with her camera so she proceeded to take numerous photos of the accident scene. Some were horrific. She captured a trail of blood on the bridge and a vivid one of Jay's twisted torso lying on the embankment. The lights on top of the damaged patrol car were slightly visible, but the entire vehicle was submerged.

As nausea set in, the accident scene began to overwhelm Kinsey. She knelt down to pray, but could not prevent vomiting. Tears also flowed slowly down her cheeks.

Kinsey quickly jumped back into her truck and sped off. As soon as she left the area of Timbers Lake, her phone picked up a signal, a strong ping. She used the mapping system to locate the nearest patrol office to report the accident. She signed a release to allow the photos to be used for further investigation into the Timber Lake Bridge tragedy.

As the commanding officer viewed the photos he shook his head in dismay.

"I just spoke to this rookie yesterday and he was a good man," he said softly. "We assigned him the area because it's usually quiet with absolutely nothing going on there."

He offered Kinsey a cup of coffee before he made his own.

She declined and was still too shaken about the entire event.

"Thank you for offering, I'm not much of a coffee drinker," she stated. He nodded and took a large gulp from his own cup.

While sitting in silence, a voice came over the radio reporting arriving on the scene. He requested police and the coroner.

Kinsey scrolled for news on her phone and decided to check social media too.

Pictures of Jay were all over social media. In addition to his filmography, his private life, and rumors regarding his substance abuse, a video was posted by a permit clerk.

" I am sorry this happened to him, but karma always teaches us a lesson."

" We couldn't issue him a permit to finish his film and he ignored everything, any advice given to him regarding potential hazards went in one ear and out the other," the clerk spoke softly.

"This tragedy could have been prevented, but by his own actions, disrespect, and arrogance he caused his death and the life of our beloved patrolman."

The comments below the post were mixed. Some totally agreed with the clerk and others raked him over the coals for having no empathy for Jay. Timbers Lake Bridge was torn down shortly after there could be no unanimous decision made regarding the safety of the structure or if maintaining it was simply not the honorable thing to do.