Taylor McBride - February 15, 2023
while i work away the night shift
scrubbing down tables and sweeping the floor
my senses are filled all over with humanity
i look up to see a group of boys chatting away—
their bodies slouching at ease
while one sips his diet coke
to my right, i catch two girls sitting next to each other
focused deeply in conversation
as their sandwich and fries lose their warmth
i continue to go about my work
scrubbing and sweeping
when i catch sight of a boy and girl
sitting further away from everyone else
lost in each other's eyes
and sipping their milkshakes
exchanging sweet smiles
i begin to think to myself
as i scrub and sweep
how beautiful relationships with others could be
and a deep longing, a hidden yearning—
often kept on a high shelf out of sight, out of mind
seems to fall off its shelf once again
as a bittersweet smile unconsciously paints my face.