there’s the stool and counter and coffee and cutlery

but still everything seems out of place.

 

that the coffee tastes good

does nothing to elevate the situation.

I wait like everyone else,

not for anything in particular

but for a change

as the tinted window steals our sunlight

making the space we share monotone.

 

I order the chilli pork

which the waitress brings.

it sounded better than it looks and looks better than it tastes

and she goes back to resting just out of sight.

 

leaving, paying the bill,

I understand

we do more than eat to stay alive

and even more

to avoid the realisation of it.