She was breaking down the boxes

She was breaking down the boxes.

Tape back, fold, flat, done.

I was supposed to be elsewhere.

I watched anyway. Just one

more, and then the next one,

and she never looked up.

The tape peeled clean. The cardboard

folded down. The cup

of afternoon light through the loading door

across her hands. The way

they knew exactly what to do

before the thought was underway.

I've watched people work before

and not thought twice. I've stared

at things for other reasons.

This one caught me unprepared,

and she never noticed.

I checked my phone. Missed call.

Called back. Got voicemail. Said sorry.

Didn't explain at all.

I'm still not sure what I was watching.