Hallway Orange

Passed her again in the hall.

That familiar nod, no word.

Years of it.

A cold routine.

Today, her grocery bag split.

An orange rolled towards my door,

a bright, ridiculous thing.

I bent down, picked it up.

Handed it back.

Her eyes, still avoiding mine.

A grunt from her, a nod from me.

The linoleum clattered.

Nothing said.

Nothing changed.