NightmareHave you taken the nighttime ride
into the unknown, first cruising smoothly past family faces, languishing in childhood forests, slowing for your favorite tricycle. Have you taken the nighttime ride, suddenly speeding out of control, steering gone, brakes failing, careening around the terrifying sharp corners of your despair. Have you taken the nighttime ride, sideswiping the death of your father, swerving around your suffering children; whose dreadful cries drown the din of your squealing tires. Have you taken the nighttime ride, hurtling toward a deadly precipice, glimpsing salvation racing past just beyond the reach of your outstretched hand. Have you taken that nighttime ride, finally a hard yellow lurching into morning, crashing awake, headlights shining everywhere, the room bursting with clarity. Published in Tigershark, October 2019 |