#deer vehicle collission

[namu-the-orca]

S U R V I V O R

Two months ago I was driving home, right as dusk was falling. A little black roe deer ran out onto the road in front of me. This painting shows what I wish would have happened: a screeching of brakes, a frightening moment for both of us, but ultimately safe passage.

But in reality I didn't even see her coming. Instead there was a huge crash, two ears over the edge of my hood. It took me a second before I realise what had happened and hit the brakes.

I found her quite a ways back, lying on the roadside. Dead. She looked perfect, spare the blood coming from her nose, and the fact the impact had landed her entrails several yards ahead. That same night she was collected by wildlife services. The next morning you'd never have known she was there, only the scratches on the tarmac still bear witness to what happened.

I'm lucky to have gotten out unscathed, Blue sheep was miraculously undamaged too. But I felt godawful about it and still do. I drive even slower these days. Black roe deer are a rarity, they only occur in a small part of the Netherlands. It always makes me happy to see them out and about. To have taken the life of one weighs heavily on my heart. This painting is a small part of me trying to do right by her and remember her. A little roe deer keychain now hangs off Blue sheep's keys too, to always remind me when I go out for a drive.