She asked the way they have to —

She asked the way they have to —

leaning over the counter,

already halfway to the next thing —

and I said fine,

and she said good,

and she handed me the bag

with the receipt stapled through it.

I stood there an extra second

in the fluorescent light

like I'd forgotten something,

which I hadn't.

I'd been awake since three.

I'd stood at the window

watching nothing

until it got pale outside.

Fine, I said.

Good, she said.

And I was already

walking toward the door

with the little plastic handles

cutting slightly into my palm,

which I didn't mention.