it happened in a matter of seconds,
metal folding in on itself, the crunch of
glass shards raining down like crystals,
the sudden impact and the distinct
silence of bone snapping, blood pooling.

i opened my eyes and took a second,
took it all in, felt the dull ache
in my ribs and the ringing in my skull.
and as i fell out onto the concrete,
oil seeping through my jeans,
i looked up to watch the clouds pass by -
to watch the birds dance - and i wondered
how long it would take me
to forgive myself
for surviving.