The Place That Didn’t Ask
She arrived prepared, but the place did not ask for readiness. It was already complete. She stayed longer than she meant to.
There was a place she went because she thought something was supposed to happen there.
Not something dramatic. Just a sense that she should arrive prepared—awake, attentive, maybe a little improved from the last time.
But the place did not seem to notice her preparation.
It held the light the same way whether she was ready or not.
It let the air move through it without waiting for permission.
Nothing in it leaned forward, expecting anything from her.
She stood there for a while, uncertain what to do with that.
Eventually, she realized the place was not unfinished.
It was not waiting for her attention to become itself.
It had never required her participation to be whole.
She stayed longer than she meant to.
Not because she was doing something right—but because nothing was being asked of her anymore.