Two city police officers, in uniform, on my porch, with a marked car at the kerb with its parking lights on.

And here is a thing about adrenaline that I did not know.

It does not make you sharp.

I have read all the things about fight and flight and I was expecting to be sharp.

What actually happened to me is that my competence left.

My hands did not work on the chain.

I said “just a second” to a door, twice, out loud.

Then I opened it.