"Collision"

  Here she is, home alone
pining for his touch
A knock upon the door
Her heart races, maybe it's him

False alarm, local kids
fundraiser for their ball team
Hope diminished
She makes a donation

He calls then visits
each Sunday by this time
But it's been three weeks
She needs 'his ball team'

She knows he works
three hundred miles away
Travels home each weekend
Old school, won't buy a cellphone

Thoughts leap, logic fades
Where is he
Who is he fucking
How dare he

No facts, loss of common sense
Distrust is the soup du jour
Presumption based on emotion
almost certain to bite her in the ass

Caught up in the daily
hustle of life
She is unaware of what happened
how or why

Coworker on Monday
hears her speak his name
'Sounds familiar
think I heard it in the news'

She frantically searches the web
Finds the horrifying headline
'Fatality'
A drunk driver, freeway collision

Grief stricken, then guilt
Blames herself for not searching sooner
Sorrow, then shame
Leaping to such terrible conclusions

Coworker consoles and sympathizes
Grants her time to heal
Cautions against letting emotions steer
Presuming the worst led to her internal collision