the Deer

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.