"The bus was late again. I kept checking my phone - one more minute and I'd miss the morning meeting. I could already
feel their stares, hear my apology, taste the guilt. My hands were cold from the wind, but my mind was burning."

Next to me stood a girl from my office. No panic. No rush. No fight with time. She wasn't worrying about the bus, wasn't watching the clock. She just stood there, still while everything else rushed. And in that moment, despite the wind and traffic, she seemed untouched. Held together while I was coming undone.