The SUV.

I drove on US Highway 19, in the far right of three lanes of northbound traffic on a Friday.

Sun through the windshield.

Gungor through the speakers.

Twenty miles to home.

My brain was ready for the weekend. My brain was not ready for the SUV. I saw the underside of it first, while it flipped in the air over the southbound side of the street. I watched it land upside down, its roof crushed like a soda can against concrete. I watched it slide to a stop, across shards of shattered windows.

I at first only furrowed my brow.

The crash happened quicker than my body was willing to process it (in its defense of me, no doubt). I kept driving, and I grabbed for my phone. When I found it, I could see neither the 9 nor the 1 without my reading glasses.

I stopped trying.

I started crying.

And in my rear view mirror, I watched a fire truck follow an ambulance south.

– – – – –

This post is part of an occasional series of unrelated true stories, called “True Story.” Click here to read all the posts in the series.