2AM

'Why does my head feel so heavy?.. What time is it?" Swords of wild grass fenced the view ahead, with darkness on all sides, save for the faint light reflected off their stalks. 'Where am I? I'm not supposed to be here.. but where am I supposed to be.. was I drinking? What am I saying, of course not, I'm on my way home from work.. unless it's the weekend.. is it the weekend? What day is it?" A stronger light began to cast shadows somewhere off to the right. It was moving quickly, but seemed to slow as it grew stronger.

'Why am I still sitting here? I need to get going so I can get enough sleep before work tomorrow. Where are my keys? I can't.. why can't I reach- why aren't my- I was in an accident. How was I in an accident. Am I in a ditch? Oh my god, am I ok? I'm not ok- I can't move! How can I not move?! Can I? I need to get out. I can feel a pulse through my head, it reminds me of whe- I'm upside down. Ohhhh my god is my car ok?" A sudden knock on the window, and an unfamiliar face, eyes wide, mouth moving quickly. He was asking questions. He asked, he waited for a response. More light was penetrating the rear windows. 'Did I hit him? I don't rem-the semi. There was a semi. Sweet, he pushed me off the road, it wasn't my fault? What am I saying, who cares if it was my fault, I'm upside down in a ditch at 2am- Blood.. I feel blood.. Where's it com- Where's my cell? Did anyone call 911? Where did that man go?!"

* * * *

Two AM. Tires on the pavement, 120kmh, pass the next car and I own a stretch of dark, country freeway. High beams on. Under the overpass. Oncoming traffic, high beams off. Blinking lights up ahead.. cops? Slow down. Speed limit 90kmh. Lights look like regular hazards.. someone has car troubles up by the s-curve. Blown tire most likely. Closer.. Another car parked on the side of the road.. road check? no, a semi, and a 3rd car off the road. It can't be parked that far out, there's a ditch. It's upside down. It's yellow. The lights are still on. A man is running from the yellow car towards his own parked car, lights on. Did he call 911? Is he about to? Was the driver injured? Are there passengers? Do I know them? ..I don't need to stop, it'll make a spectacle of it. There are already 2 cars and a semi, and more cars following a few seconds behind me. They'll stop if they need to, right? ... Rear view mirror is still dark. Turn the corner, still dark. They must have stopped. ... I haven't seen any emergency lights yet..

* * * *

I'm not sure when I'll be able to fall asleep tonight, knowing someone out there was in a potentially life-threatening accident and I didn't stop to see if I could help. I didn't call 911 after I had passed, because I didn't want the operator to ask for more details and have me respond with "Oh, I'm a few km's past the accident now. I just wanted to see if anyone else reported it yet."

* * * *

A free, live, open-air performance by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the natural amphitheatre in Deer Lake Park. A blanket, some food, a deck of cards, a good friend, and beautiful summer weather. A hive of children; bright colours writhing and dancing over a spherical jungle gym. Clouds turning from blue to pink to orange to purple. Dogs panting, classical music echoing off the trees, the hillside, the thousands of fellow park guests.

Life is good. And I'm thankful.