Daily story, March 21, 2025

“Have they finally got rid of her?” They had not, in fact, finally got rid of me. I had simply tidied my desk before leaving the previous evening, and been delayed by a broken-down bus that morning. But for one absurd moment, I felt guilty about stepping round the corner and shattering his hopes. There was excitement in his voice that you don’t hear enough of. As a kindness, I waited long enough that he would think I hadn’t heard.