Drip…Drip….Drip…Drip…”Can SOMEONE, ANYONE, or SOMETHING …Please take care of that? I’m about bonkers!”

Why did the heat rise up the collar of my shirt and seemingly jump to my face?

“YOU! GO! NOW, Please!”

I fumbled my feet, standing up too fast, they keys on my lap, clattering loudly to the floor.

Now everyone was looking at me. Me! Why me? I didn’t leave the leaky faucet in the conference room on… i turned quickly, nervously for no good reason. I had estimated my compensation at this new job would not even cover the rent.

I enjoyed the reprieve of eye contact as i turned away and i could feel the cool air blowing through the window but most of all i was really enjoying the assault on my nostrils of a mix of Vanilla cookies and coconut coming from that direction.

I peeked a glance, it was the most serene smile all day! Thats when I remembered my wife that morning struggling in an unusual and awkward moment to get our daughter to nurse as a tear fell down her warm cheeks. I looked away and resigned to turn off the faucet my face now burning with guilt. I complacently sat down quietly as all the eyes around glanced at me knowingly.

I started counting the seconds that felt like minutes, then hours…why i wondered did i not ask for more than their posted range? Why was i such a coward. I could not hear a thing at that point to anything but my own thoughts. I quietly and quickly exited the room past the vanilla girl straight to my car to quickly make an appointment to donate some plasma on my break.