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