Close Call

"Why are you giggling?"

"Nothing. It's stupid, just something that popped into my head. Haven't thought about it in a long time."

"What is it?"

"It's nothing, not a big deal."

"You're so annoying."

"You asked, but I don't feel like talking about it. Why don't you just drop it?"

"I'm curious, that's all. When you start giggling, usually it's something worth hearing. Or they're just nervous giggles. That's on par for you."

"You're so manipulative. I'm not nervous."

"Now you're acting like you are."

"Hmm, wonder why. Maybe it's because you're interrogating me."

"Or maybe, you don't want to share because it has something to do with me."

"So what if it does? Am I obligated to explain each and every thought I have, especially if, God forbid, it has something to do with you?"

"Well does it?"

"For fuck's sake."

"Just tell me. I'm too interested now to let it go."

"Fine. Jesus Christ. I was just remembering that night a few month's back when we were driving home from Tuesday Trivia. It was my turn to be the DD, we left the bar at like midnight, it was during that bad thunderstorm. You remember that?"

"Yes. What about the drive? What made you think of it?"

"I'm getting to that! I remember we were on a roll with our answers at trivia, that's for damn sure. Everyone was in good spirits, nothing but laughs. We had a blast!"

"I don't know about that. That was the night I got called up by the Trivia Master to chug a beer, even though I never really drank much. It tasted nasty, all foam. I don't know if I'll ever get that taste out of my mouth."

"Oh yeah, that was that night! And the bartender let us get a round of pickleback shots on the house for your buddy's birthday. I forgot all that happened the same night, that shit was wild."

"It was interesting, I'll give you that. But wait, you're jumping around in the story. What were you giggling about? Was it about what happened at trivia or during the drive home?"

"Oh yeah, I was remembering the drive. That's when we both lived only like 20 minutes out from the bar. I remember I was driving, you were singing along to a song—it had to be 'All Star,' or something—and then that tire appeared out of nowhere on the side of the road."

"Yeah, I remember the tire."

"I was just giggling thinking about our reactions. We were going maybe 70, 72. Then all of a sudden there it was. I didn't know my voice could go that high, I shrieked like Marv from Home Alone when the pet tarantula ends up on his face."

"Yeah, I remember that scream."

"I shrieked, and then veered around it like we were on a freakin' obstacle course. You were holding the 'oh shit stick' the whole time, your eyes bursting out of your head. The look on your face, oh my god. Shit was funny as hell, I think we both flipped our lids for a couple seconds."

"That's one way to put it."

"You say you remember, so why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"All pissy and anxious, like always. Dude it was hilarious, we laughed our asses off afterward."

"No we didn't."

"Yes we fuckin' did! I had tears coming out of my eyes, you thought I was crying at first. You're acting like I'm making all this up!"

"I think you do make stuff up sometimes. Helps you cope."

"Cope with what? Cope with that night? Nothing happened, we missed the tire and kept going. Everything was fine, we just got totally spooked for a minute then got over it and laughed it off."

"Dude, what the hell are you talking about?"

"What do you mean?"

"See, this is why I feel the need to pick your brain when you giggle. That's not what happened at all."

"Yes it is, why do you think our friend group always wanted me at trivia? I remember shit, I remember the facts. I sure as hell remember that night, it was crazy."

"Yeah, it was crazy. But the way you're telling it... That's just not the truth, man."

"Okay hot shot, what big plot hole am I leaving out? We went to trivia, we drove home, almost hit a tire, but we missed it. Then we went to bed and felt super hungover at work the next day. Look, I don't want to start shit. You brought it up, you insisted I spill my guts. Forget I fuckin' giggled."

"Don't get upset man, it's okay. I just hoped you'd remember all the details when you told the story this time."

"Huh? What are you on? When was the last time I told this story?"

"Dude, you tell me this story every, single, day. And every day, we go through the same motions, the same confusion. I'm not mad or anything. It is what it is. You don't always giggle at the beginning though, I was just hoping you were giggling because maybe you remembered something wholesome. Something funny, or even meaningful, that maybe I'd forgotten. I don't know. Things get a little fuzzier for me every day. I try to remember for your sake. But it's tough. And you're in complete denial."

"You're scaring me, man. What do you mean?"

"Okay, here we go. You're fine, just breathe. We'll get through this, it always takes you a little longer to snap back to reality, but you'll get there."

"What the fuck are you talking about, man?"

"I'm sorry to be the eternal bearer of bad news, dude. I really am. I wish I could wake you up—wake us both up—from this nightmare, but that's just not how it works. We're stuck here. We'll be stuck here for a long, long time. But I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I'm here for you."

"I need you to make more sense than that."

"I'm trying. You don't always take it well. Look, it was an accident, okay? If you accept nothing else I say in these next few moments, at the very least, accept that. It was an accident. And it wasn't your fault."

"Dude... What the hell am I misremembering about that night?"

"You swerved the car. But we didn't miss the tire."