✦ OUTSIDE, PIB ✦

Parked off PIB.

Engine off.
People coming and going.
Doors opening, closing.

—

Dropped him at the entrance.
He walked in with the others.

I stayed out here.

—

Traffic keeps moving.
Same as always.
Nothing pauses for it.

—

Inside, they’re talking about a teacher.
Stories, probably.
People remembering.

—

Out here, it’s just time.

Sitting.
Watching.
Waiting for him to come back out.

—

He’ll step through those doors again.
Maybe quiet.
Maybe the same.

Hard to tell.

—

No big lesson to say.

Just—

I’m here.
He went in.
I’ll be here when he comes out.