Self Deprecation trickles down my thigh
To the tarmacadam
Trails below afternoons lengthening shadow
As I wait for the petrol pump to start
Tension accumulating in my jaw
Seconds elapse as the counter starts
Thankful for the sunglasses darkening my eyes
Beginning to swell
Advert my gaze from the lady returning from paying for her fuel
Hoping to go unnoticed
The pump stops and I can relax
Hide myself momentarily
Busying myself as I check; money, phone, keys
Before I close the door, lock the car and walk in to pay
I can do this
One step by step
Act normal
No one else knows what happened
“Card” I smile as I tap plastic to plastic
And leave the way I came in
To the refuge of my car
Inside I sit
Grip the wheel and start my journey again
About the Creator
Niamh Hennessy
Hi!
I’m Niamh (they/them) and I’m a poet and aspiring fiction author. I sidestepped into engineering for a while, became a yoga teacher and now spend my days travelling Australia trying to figure out my next step.
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The Light Turns
It's Tuesday 7:13 a.m. A cold and clear November morning awaits Ray on his morning commute. Ray rubs his hands together in the front seat of his Subaru. He turns the air temperature up, but keeps the air on low until the air warms up. He looks at the backup camera screen and reverses the Subaru out of his driveway onto Trimble Road.
By John R. Godwin8 days ago in Fiction
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