She’d see a red light ahead and her stomach would tighten. Her foot would start feathering the gas pedal — a nervous tick — trying to keep the engine from dipping too low.  

Every intersection was a dice roll. And every time she lost, it chipped away at her confidence.

When the engine stalled, the world didn’t stop with her. Traffic moved around her, people honked, cursed, even swerved. No one cared that it wasn’t her fault — only that she was in the way. And no amount of yelling, praying, or coaxing could force the car to cooperate.  

She explains a typical experience:

Light’s red. I keep my foot on the gas to keep the idle up, just slightly. I’m whispering to the car:
“Hang in there, girl. Come on. Just five more minutes. You can do this.” 

I gently press the gas, just enough to keep the RPMs steady. One foot on the brake, one teasing the pedal.

The car is shaking.  Then

First stall.

Putt-putt-putt—PHHHT. Dead.
Steering wheel locks. Dash lights up. Car goes silent like a dropped phone.
“NOPE. Nope nope nope.”

I throw it in park and turn the key.
Nothing.
Try again — it starts, gasping to life, rumbling unevenly like it’s on three cylinders.

Light’s still red. I breathe. It’s okay. We’re okay.

Then — Second stall.
PHHFT. Again.
Now I’m full-on panicking. People behind me are noticing. I try to wave apologetically but I’m too busy frantically turning the key again.

Engine starts. Barely. Shaking like a Chihuahua.
I give it gas, and the whole car lurches. The muffler lets out this awful pop like a firecracker.

Light turns green.

I let off the brake, tap the gas—

Third stall.
Right there. Car dies in the middle of the intersection.

Horn behind me. Another one. Some guy yells, “Get it off the road!”
Like I’m stalling for fun.

I slam it in park, crank the key again like I’m trying to summon a demon.
It coughs to life.

This time I don’t wait. I stomp the gas. The Mustang jerks forward like a dying bull charging a matador, backfires again, and somehow — somehow — I make it through the light just as it turns yellow.

I don't like intersections.