Do Not Stop for Hitchhikers / Discussion

This is the discussion related to the wiki page Do Not Stop for Hitchhikers.

UncertaintyCrossing 16 Oct 2021 22:47

A sequel to my first solo post on WL.

Over a year ago I wrote this piece and just never had the confidence to post it. Recently, I found the draft sitting in a WIP folder, and decided it's time to finally bring this story to a close. You don't need to read the first tale to understand this one; however, it does give some further context as to who two of the three characters are.

+Story Explanation

This story is about the child from Quiet, Uneventful Affairs, as an adult now, having a conversation in his mind with the figure that haunted his house/was the one to drown him. They talk about the anguish their father figure caused in their life, and getting over that hurt. What happens in the end is open for your interpretation, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The quote blocks are him talking in his mind to the ghost, while the regular text is him reminiscing to himself/talking to us the audience.

Many thanks to the people who reviewed this over a year ago in person, and to the critters from WL ( Avelon21, Sebarus, ThePianoMan1616, destinysday )

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But the time flies, irretrievable.

destinysday 16 Oct 2021 23:36

Wooo! New crossing post!!!
Great stuff as always

LAN 2D 20 Oct 2021 12:21

Beautiful, seriously beautiful. I really love this style of writing - filled with subtle metaphors and nostalgic imagery. It does make it difficult to figure out what is actually going on, but that just adds to the charm in my opinion.

+ My interpretation

In my mind, the car journey is a metaphor for the speaker's acceptance/overcoming of their grief - with the passenger being their own idea of that trauma (as said at the beginning, with 'You are me, and I am you,' because the speaker accepts that the grief is not only a part of them, but is the reason they are who they are.)

I think the light on the horizon represents the end of their journey, i.e. acceptance, and moving on. The second last quoteblock could be about the speaker's self-doubt about their healing journey, and how they barely have the energy to continue. But continue they must.

Finally, the last quoteblock has a few key details: the bridge over a river, the contorted face of the passenger, and their disappearance. I think the bridge represents their transition from the 'desert' of anguish to a new light across the river, and the disappearance of the passenger (which is their grief in this case) after seeing their shocked face, symbolises the speaker's final confrontation with their trauma, before it fades away. Perhaps the wound doesn't heal, but at least it no longer bothers them.

Of course, it is only one of many interpretations, and I don't expect it to be the 'correct one' (if there even is one), but I still feel that it's a testament to how well written this is that I can come out satisfied with my own ideas, no matter how 'incorrect' they could be.

Seriously, well done.

Last edited on 20 Oct 2021 12:22 by LAN 2D Show more

Snapdragon133 26 Oct 2021 22:14

Love a Crossing post. Me and my homies love a Crossing post.

Maxyfran73 09 Nov 2021 00:14

A brilliant sequel to uneventful affairs. This has the same air of juxtaposition between a serene feel and odd occurrences, especially the parts that aren't inside boxes. The slow development of the story is really neat; I like it, as well as the outcome of the story.

Onto theories, a sentence stayed with me from your previous piece: "souls far from home and torn with the guilt of unsaid goodbyes." I think this is a theme in both that piece and this one. Our character doesn't feel bad about unsaid goodbyes but still is bothered by it, the drive being more of a metaphor imo than anything else. The silent figure represents this bother but, as he continues towards the light, towards a guiltless outcome, the figure either disappears or fully joins him: Either he's freed from the guilt, or accepts it. Either way the outcome is similar.

Anyhow, enough theory. This was a beautiful story. Easy upvote~

Nils Severin 29 Aug 2022 16:12

I like this! I like the puzzle that you have laid out in front of us. The atmosphere is alike the one from uneventful affairs and the conclusion satisfying.