I Know That Face

Two years ago I made the same argument

to a different group,

and it was handled the same way—

the word understand used three times,

my point reframed into something

no one was disagreeing with.

Tuesday I watched a colleague

push something she believed

into that same wall.

I saw the moment she knew.

The hands flat on the table.

The face going carefully neutral,

the decision not to push further

visible for just a second

before her posture closed over it.

I know that expression

from the inside.

I said nothing.

After the meeting I took the elevator

down and stood in the lobby

longer than I needed to.

The doors opened on the wrong floor

on the way back up.

I let them close.

Two years ago I learned

how to read the room once it's decided.

I watched her read it Tuesday.

There was nothing useful in the seeing.