The Escape at Dawn

The white party had stretched on until dawn. Laughter, champagne, whispered promises-all glitter on the surface, but she felt the hollowness beneath it. She wanted more than chandeliers and curated playlists. She wanted raw air in her lungs and the rumble of horsepower under her hands.

The horizon was pale with first light when she slipped away. She walked barefoot through the dew, her heels dangling from one hand. By the time she reached the car, the ground was cold and wet, and her skin was buzzing with anticipation.

She dropped the shoes onto the backseat, slid into the driver’s seat, and pressed the start button. The engine’s growl was the sunrise she had been waiting for.

Heels off. Engine on. Everything she needed.