It happened
quickly. That’s what would be said. After it was over. It happened so quickly.
Quick. Too bad those quick moments won’t ever
leave. Too bad they keep replaying. But they do.
Quickly.
It was
raining. Pouring, really. And there was lighting. In the dark of a sky just past twilight, it
looked like the strobe light at a dance party.
Except more erratic.
Driving in the
rain is like asking for something to go wrong.
Especially when driving up a windy hill on a road that’s too
narrow. Already know what’s gonna
happen, right?
Sure.
But there’s
something to be said of accidents.
People just can’t look away.
Work ran late
today. Hurry home. In the rain.
Tried to beat the rain. But
outrunning weather is like trying not to hit roadkill. Pointless.
Messy. And really bad for the
car.
So close to
home. But there’s this section of road
that goes up the bluff. That was never
designed for the recent influx of traffic.
That’s dangerous enough when only one car is on it.
This part of the
drive is always dreaded. But it’s so
close to home, it hardly matters.
Already thoughts of what’s going on at home. Dinner cooking. Favorite TV shows to watch after. A glass of wine and a cozy blanket.
The song on the
radio lulls senses into false security.
The car turns and begins the ascent it won’t finish. Singing along loudly to the radio. Drowning out the patter of rain. Ignoring the bright flashes of the
storm. And trying to ignore the stark
light of the oncoming cars.
Then there’s a
pair of lights that’s coming too close.
That’s in the wrong lane. That’s-
When
this part replays, it’s still fuzzy.
Except for the churning stomach.
And the shock that courses through every nerve ending.
There’s a rushing
feeling. And hardness. That’s the glass
and steering wheel. But is the rushing
rain or blood? It’s hard to tell.
Lights are still
flashing. They soon become red and
blue.
It happened so
quickly.
