4:56 in the afternoon
sitting in the lobby
waiting
tick. tick
four chairs against the beige wall
stack of magazines on the coffee table
a plant
tick. tick
it is eerily quiet
except for this noise
tick. tick
where is it coming from?
a man in a suit walks in
he sits down
puts his briefcase down
he says nothing
tick. tick
the man moves in his chair
just a little bit
but enough for his chair to make the noise
that leather chairs make when you move
tick. tick
i received a text
i replied
tick. tick
the man is still here
sitting
looking at nothing
tick. tick
i look at my watch
it’s 5 o’clock now
the man looks at his watch
he stands up
and leaves
it’s me and the room again
and this noise
tick. tick