Love Among the Pizza Boxes

I have to go to work today.
I’m at work.
So I work.
And that’s all.
I’m on break.
It’s noon.
I don’t do anything with my break.
So I work again.
And I don’t talk to anyone.
And no one talks to me.
Till my boss calls.
I walk over to him.
“You okay?” Harry asks.
I blink at him and then nod.
I’m okay.
I’m fine.
“Take a break.” He nods and then shakes his head, then walks away.
So I stop working, lean against a wall, stare at the people.
And then someone’s leaning against the wall too.
It startles me so I look up.
Hi, Joe.
I nod at him.
He shakes his head and smiles that infamous Morgan Freeman smile.
He chuckles.
I blink and look at the ground.
“Shayla.” I hear his voice. It’s like static. Static and far away.
I look up.
What?
“Shayla,” he says again. It’s more clear.
Everything is quiet now.
Then Joe continues and crosses his arms.
“Do you believe in second chances?”
What?
No.
No.
I don’t say anything and I look at the ground again.
Joe clears his throat. “I do. And you should too. Because sometimes. Second chances are really first chances. And some people don’t need second chances. Just a chance for the first.”
What?
He’s sounding like the Cheshire cat.
I blink and look up at him again.
He smiles and nods. “Shayla,” He turns to me. “Just listen. Listen to me. And listen to what’s in here.” He points to his chest.
I look down at mine and poke at the place where my heart supposedly is.
I look up again.
Joe nods some more, wisely, with that smile still playing on his face.
“Just do a little listening. And you’ll know what to do.”
I look down at where my finger is pointing to my heart.
And then I look up.
Joe?
Where’d you go?
God, that’s creepy.
I look around for him.
The doors to the observatory are just closing.
I blink and shake my head in disbelief.
And then my break is over according to Harry.
And so I go hand out programs to some old people who have loved the stars for ages.