Ty Aki

It's been like this ever since I could remember. People talking over other people. The noise from the traffic is in the background and I am straining to listen to the person in front of me. I think to myself and wonder about in my brain before I snap to and say "I'm sorry can you repeat that."

Sometimes when I take a drink from my flask the sound of that person's voice disappears along with everything surrounding me. I smile. Make quick eye contact. Shake my head as if I get what they are saying to me. Suddenly, I make a gesture to excuse myself and I leave the room. I walk across the floor towards the door and I feel a hand touching my arm. I turn to look and I hear a voice saying "wait." A girl who was sitting on the other side of the room stopped me to say "wait." I look at her and say "is there something I can help you with?" She laughs and then smiles and points to the floor. I look down to where she is pointing and see that I dropped my flask. Oh, "thank you," I say and pick up the flask. "Where are you running off to?" she asks. "Nowhere in particular" I say.