Paradoxically Yours...

Unfeeling

(prompt: 'collision' 14/2/2017)

"I got run over by a semi!"

"You WHAT?"

"Run over by a semitrailer! He was one of those dirty big car-carrying types!" I repeated. I was so angry, I couldn't hear how ridiculous my words sounded.

"But look at you, you're here and you're not hurt. How on earth—"

"He ran over little Dub - and hurt her. But that's not the worst!"

"Well, no! Can't imagine how a Volkswagen driver could survive a collision with a semi-trailer without terrible injuries, at the least. THAT would be the worst! But you're fine, so... ?"

I stamped my foot. "He didn't even feel me! THAT was the worst. Don't you get it?"

Kanute's worried face transformed into a wry kind of smile before he took me in his arms to hug and kiss me soundly. Unexpectedly, my legs went wobbly and I must have paled somewhat, because he sat me down at the table, still holding my hands and saying, "How about you take a few deep breaths, relax - and then tell me all about it. From the beginning, huh?"

A few sips of Brandy also helped to ease my anger to a more reasonable level of indignation. "I was minding my own business, waiting in the left lane of the Boundy Road T-junction to turn for home, when this great mountain of a semitrailer pulled up alongside me. Of course, I thought he was turning right." My lip curled involuntarily.

Kanute looked thoughtful, as though picturing that well-known junction of busy roads.

"Yes but..." and in an instant, I could feel my cheeks flushing with renewed red-hot anger. "He turned LEFT, and at first I thought that was OK - at least it must be safe to go if his great hulk was moving out. But I didn't have the nerve to scoot around the corner on the inside of him. And as I watched and waited, his great wheels - almost as big as my poor little Dub - were coming closer and closer - each stinking set of them." Tears unexpectedly filled my eyes as I sniffed loudly. Kanute handed me the tissue box. He knew what my waterworks were like when my tear-tap turned on.

"And suddenly I was so scared I was gasping. I leaned over hard as I could away from my door, snapping my seatbelt open, truly believing those great tyres were going to roll right over me. But just when all hope of escape seemed gone, the last wheels loomed right next to me and went straight over poor little Dub's mudguard and front bumper bar."

"You could still drive home? Dub isn't damaged too badly for driving?"

"No-o-o. We can fix it with a bit of help. But wait, there's more—"

"MORE?"

Now I blurted out, through sobs, "I couldn't catch him and stop him to tell him off - there was TOO much traffic and I lost him! He needed to know you just can't run over people and Dubs, even if you can't feel them! I NEEDED to shout at him some. "