Sometimes when I'm walking to first-period class, I find myself lingering beneath my favorite tree where its gnarled roots push up through the pavement like ancient fingers. It's an odd place to pause, especially for one so habitually punctual, yet it holds me captive in a moment before the chaos. I stand there taking in the peculiar scent of last week's rain on the damp earth, letting my eyes water for no apparent reason. It doesn't seem to make the looming math exam any more manageable, but for this one suspended second, everything feels slightly possible.
0