Her presence had taken precedence over your everyday routine.

She overtook your better judgement. The little voice inside that speaks “There’s something off,” you brushed aside. She looked great. And smelled refreshing. The first few encounters you both shared everything seemed on track. You aligned your schedules in advance, you even thought you liked her. She let you in it appeared and you her. Trust. Smiles and sunshine.

Rather than pursuing the glory you spent more time getting to know her. Her bends. Her foibles. You showed yours. Without risk there is no reward, so standing tall or cutting back made no difference. You were happy to go by feel. You looked toward the future: a cache of fun times.

And. Quicker than she came, she left. Abashed. At sea. Unscrewed… The signs were there, you choose to ignore them. Her whims, tidal. Your temperance, benevolent. Did you do this to yourself? (Did I do something wrong, perhaps?) I only brought her myself… how selfish of me. You wonder.

Unshaven and sun burnt you are unsure of what day of the week it is. “What’s today’s date?” You jokingly ask yourself… The initial confusion washed away in the rearview. Learning lessons left in her wake on the Carolina roadway. New York, 440 North. South. New Jersey. Route 36. The Parkway… Hurricanes are such a different breed. I’ll never understand them.