I appear with a half-covered face
searching for familiar eyes
They say we are all in this together
yet our goal is to stay apart
For better
for worse
a freshman at heart
I stumble
through the packed hallways of the second floor
I smile with my mouth
but forget it’s all in the eyes
I laugh
but forget that I’m not on mute
I write
with hands that have hibernated for almost 2 years
constantly sticky from a 99.9% germ killer
afraid to let go of the past
I dance within a taped square
Tik Tok should have prepared me for this
patiently waiting
I walk
up the wide steps, hoping for it all to come back naturally
This is real life
Right?