woke up
to see the sun
glaring down
at a world frozen in place

the birds
hung in the sky
in static formation
like a swarm of gnats

a plastic bag
gently hovered
my first thought
a jellyfish in a tank

i didn’t dress
just stepped out
into the scorching day
filled with curiosity

this existential
photo realistic
still life
of reality in flux

i realized
i was holding my breath
waiting for it all
to move again

her face
flashed in my mind
like it does
ten thousand times an hour

it all came
rushing back
as the world reawoke
to the pain in my chest

for a moment
in the absence of motion
i had forgotten
she was gone