i was stopped by a deer on the side of the highway.
i was walking along the side of the road / headlights blinded me / again and again / again and again and again /
The Deer had its back to the cars / backlit / like an omen /
im not sure what kind.
it looked at me / with dark, pensive eyes / it almost looked distracted--- if a deer could look distracted--- like it was looking beyond me /
i checked behind me / nothing different / nothing new / just darkness and headlights / trees and the short metal fence /
"you don't belong here, do you?" The Deer asked me.
i didnt know what to say / so i didnt say anything
"you don't belong here."
a sharp wind stung my eyes / the headlights had vanished / it was just me / me and The Deer / in the dark, i shivered /
"when you die and have to face whatever created you," The Deer continued. "how will you justify the space youve taken?"
it eyes me / it stands perfectly still / as do i /
"i dont know," i said.
The Deer looked at me / its eyes were too human / it looked over its shoulder / i looked too /
the headlights were back / the silence---or however close to silence you could get---was over / The Deer bounded into the woods / out of sight /
i kept walking.