She set her life to cruise controlpreferring a leisurely driveand Sunday afternoon sceneryto a one-woman racesimply for the sake of speed and curiosityI am that one womanwho cut the cable to my brakespressing the pedal to the pavementscreaming past exitsordinary exitslesser exitsuntil I find the off-rampthat waits for us alleven those of us who live by that cruise controlwho obey all limitsand never cross the centerlinedesperately riding the brake in vainin fearhoping to delay the exitthat curves into the entranceof the final highway that ends at the stars

by Bekah Steimel