Swallow, it’s all I could do in the moment. No, wait, even that was hard to manage with the large lump in my throat. The pulse of my neck beat rapidly as if trying to escape the situation and leave me behind.

Hidden from their view, I stand just outside the building entrance. My body has become a fixed point on Earth. Warm light emanates from the bar, bringing with it the cheerful sounds of my workmates and their glasses that clink in celebration.

Guilt has found me once again. My hands grasp the cold of the steering wheel. I merge onto the lonely highway and feel the weighted silence of my car. Maybe next time, I can be different.