you opened the car door
and i got in, smiling
it was my first time as a passenger
it was your first time driving
we drove down routes
neither of us travelled
the roads seemed smooth
although we knew there was gravel
but then you shut the engine
and we both got whiplash
you hit your head when you fell forward
and i bruised my nose on the dash
i opened the car door
and you got out, sighing
you avoided my gaze
but it seemed like you were crying
the car kept moving
though i tried to slam the brakes
they call it inertia when we can’t stop
and these feelings, we can’t shake
momentum pushing me forward
wheels turning on their own
i tried everything to bring it to a halt
but then i realised, alone:
the routes we travelled
were short, some had dead ends
but so what? we were happy
i’m glad we were driving those bends
although i didn’t like it
now i see things from the driver’s side
i touch my nose bridge
and thank you for the ride