my car ran out of gas after I drove past the stop sign of the highway exit

the gas station to my left was so close I could have easily thrown a rock into its neon lights.

After 6 trips to the pump, two policemen and numerous attempts to start the car

I called to be towed 300 feet.

Do you remember that time you duck taped the front bumper of my car?

You were my first call then.

But gratitude came when I was on my own.

It might have been the cool air through the parted windows

or the gas fumes somewhere from below

or the remembrance of things past

that exacerbated this longing for you.