The Storm

The thermostat read 24 degrees; the wind was warm

Heading out, for a moment I savoured the warmth on my skin

 

I was alone; I savoured the freedom to listen to author interviews as I drove

I ignored the empty seat beside me, it was not supposed to be vacant tonight

 

The trees began to strain against the wind as I made my way east

I knew the storm was coming

 

My friend and I met; he noted my missing plus one; 

We shared words, both spoken and unsaid, over caffeine and cake

The trees were tall, unrestrained

The storm was on its way

The thermostat read 28 degrees 

The event - charming with chatter and reflection, optimism, and advice – 

for a moment I savoured the normalcy of the conversations

For a moment I burned with envy 

My phone buzzed, my heart squeezed, my reality returned

The unrelated sirens echoed in the distance; the sun had given way to grey

 

Slipping away, eyes stinging, disappointment drowning me from the insides

My fingers typed without seeing the letters- homeward

The car shook, I looked around, the trees were dancing

The debris swirled around the car

I drove into the storm

The thermostat read 19 degrees

 

Disappointment turned into anger as rapidly as my wipers could wash the rain away

The pools of water kept grabbing at the tyres, urging me to spin me around

The thermostat read 16 degrees

 

My anger turned into fury

The branches slammed down as the trees released their deadwood

Enough with the dodging obstacles

I could barely see

The thermostat read 14 degrees

 

My knuckles whitened, the curves came too fast, my foot was slow to lift off the accelerator

Find the brake

The thermostat read 12 degrees

 

I stopped, I remembered to breathe

Enough

I needed to get home

 

I see the lights

The rain is steady

The thermostat reads 9 degrees

The storm did not win