he has been
trapped
all alone
in a twenty story
building
for almost
two years now

he was so
excited
to see me
to have someone
to talk to

and i was
trying
to get done
then get out

but i let him
ramble on
nodding and
occasionally
even smiling
behind my mask
seeing a kindred
shadow
forgotten by
nearly everyone
a ghost
haunting
an empty building
a spectre
in their own
hazy life

he looked
disappointed
as i put the
machine back
together again
sensing how
the silence prowled
hungrily
in the halls

he followed me
out of the office
down the elevator
and kept talking
the entire way

i hope i was not
the highlight
of his day
because that
just makes a sad
situation worse