The badge clipped to her
collar had her name on
it, but some mornings
she had to check. She
sat down at the desk,
opened the same seven
tabs, and felt the day
start without her.
Somewhere between the
second meeting and the
coffee going cold, she
lost the thread of why.
Nobody noticed, which was
its own kind of answer.
So she let the anxiety
sit beside her like a
coworker she didn't have
to explain herself to.
It didn't have directions
either. They just stayed
until the light through
the blinds moved far
enough to mean afternoon.