The funeral home approached. Julienne. Julienne! Above the roar of the engine his conscience raged, a tumultuous screaming nightmare, the same fifteen seconds of insanity playing over and over again in his mind.

He wouldn’t be the victim. He wouldn’t let irony have the last word again. In frustration he pulled onto the shoulder and hit the gas, tearing past the motionless string of cars. Nothing, nothing ever went right anymore. Maybe there was something karmic about that, too early the first time and stuck in traffic today. Merwin was going to be late.

Had the sky always been so gray?

He had become a man, a man who had known love, albeit for a brief moment. But also, stronger, alive.Torn asunder. No, more. Yes. Regretful? Those four days had turned the universe on its head. What was he now? Four days ago, Merwin was a forgettable timid little snot.

And the traffic jam stretched for miles. So claustrophobic in here! He needed air, just one single breath. He was trembling as he hung up the cell phone.