“To get out?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah.”
“I remembered it differently.”
“That happens.”
Diane looked at him.
“You could have been nicer.”
Nathan nearly smiled.
“Probably.”
The answer surprised her.
“You admit that?”
“I can always be better.”
Diane nodded slowly.
Then she asked, “Did you want to break the window?”
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
Nathan actually laughed.
“No.”
“I thought you did.”
“I believe you.”
“I thought you were trying to prove you had power.”
Nathan rested one hand on his belt.
“I was trying to finish a traffic stop.”
Diane smiled faintly.
“I know that now.”
A family walked between them.
A small boy carried a reflective bicycle sticker.
Diane watched him leave.
Then she said, “I really did think you needed my permission.”
Nathan nodded.
“I know.”
“For everything.”
“I know.”
“I watched too many videos.”
Nathan looked at her.
“That happens more than you’d think.”
Diane laughed quietly.
“I’m guessing I’m not unique.”
“No.”
“That might be the most insulting thing you’ve said to me.”
Nathan smiled.
“You’ll survive.”
She looked at him for a moment.
“Was I the worst traffic stop you’ve had?”
“No.”
“Not even close?”
“Not even close.”
Diane laughed.
For the first time, the whole incident seemed slightly less enormous.
Nathan picked up another box.
Before leaving, he said, “Take care of yourself.”
Diane nodded.
“You too.”
That evening she drove home in the same silver SUV.
The window had been replaced months earlier.
The front license plate was now mounted correctly.
At an intersection, Diane activated her turn signal.
She smiled at herself.
A patrol car passed in the opposite direction.
For a split second, the old reflex returned.
Her shoulders stiffened.
Then the patrol car continued.
Nothing happened.
Diane drove on.
At home, she opened her phone.
The old livestream still existed.
Millions of views across reposts.
Thousands of comments.
Some called her brave.
Some called her stupid.
Some insulted her appearance.
Some insulted Nathan.
Some claimed she had been completely correct.
Others quoted laws she now knew they had misunderstood.
Diane scrolled for a minute.