I am driving

from the city
into the city

something is approaching

a hunk of tire
a phone call

too late, impact

I drive slowly, listening
I put down the phone, listening

then it hits me

I look over at him
I look over her

they can’t face me

out of anger
out of shame

I pull off

an unfamiliar place
an unfamiliar place

we are assessing the damages

the bumper is ******
everything is ******

I am waiting

in a gas station
by a restaurant

how bad?

it’ll be okay, he says
it’ll be okay, I say

we start down the road again

scraping
crying

pull off again

we rip off a metal binding
we tear apart our binding

driving, again, in silence

a low buzzing now
a steady sob

I’m sorry

I know, he says
I know, I say

the ride is long

ten hours
the last hours

it’ll be okay

he says
I lie